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Original poster

2 year old can't count to 3 - normal?

33 replies

WhyTheHeckMe · 03/12/2017 09:59

My ds1 is just 2 and cannot count to 3.
I have no idea if it's normal as all the other kids I know his age (and automatically compare him to) are counting to 10, some even 20 and doing the alphabet.
My sisters son could count to 10 by 15 months. It's hard to not worry!

We do try and teach him 1, 2, 3..but he copies 3,2,3.
He seems to get muddled a lot.
Rabbit is barrit.
Cat is tac.
Mr tumble is mr bumtle!

All normal? Or worth mentioning during his health visitor review in 3 months?

Thanks

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SlartyFarkBarstard · 03/12/2017 10:02

Are they actually counting though or just reciting numbers?

SlartyFarkBarstard · 03/12/2017 10:03

Also lots of children still muddle sounds at this age, there’s lots of variations of normal but it can’t help to have a chat to the HV about it for reassurance.

ZigZagandDustin · 03/12/2017 10:05

My almost 2 yr old took a liking to 2 and 9 for the last few months and every time you tell her to count she just repeats 2,9,2,9...

She's also been speaking in 6 word sentences since about 20 months and is in line with the developmental check of a 3 yr old though not yet 2 (except for the counting thing😂).

Don't worry! Maybe your ds just couldn't be arsed with numbers yet. Could well still be a genius!

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Original poster
WhyTheHeckMe · 03/12/2017 10:09

He also doesn't know any colours, also normal? He loves little toy cars so we'll try the whole 'red car, white car, blue car' etc. Ask him to gour and fetch his white car and he comes back with the red one. I wasn't too concerned but dh seems to think we should be! Thanks for the advise so far!

OP posts:
haba · 03/12/2017 10:19

He's just 2, so still very young. Mr bumtle is so cute! Children mix up sounds for a long time often, but if you're worried have you checked his hearing? My DS suffered a lot when small.with ear infections, and his speech was terrible (it would deteriorate) when his ears were bunged up (glue ear). It might be worth asking HV or GP for hearing test, it will certainly help out your mind at rest.

haba · 03/12/2017 10:21

And yes- those other children are reciting, not counting! Don't stress, he's not a performing monkey Smile

SlartyFarkBarstard · 03/12/2017 10:27

Yes normal not to know colours at this age, I use the EYFS daily and there’s nothing in it to say children should be learning colours at the age of two.

AuntLydia · 03/12/2017 10:29

You are unusually surrounded by child prodigies I think! Have you actually witnessed any of these tiny geniuses and their remarkable counting skills?! By age 3 kids should be able to recite numbers 1-3 when prompted. By age 2 they should be starting to recognise numbers in nursery rhymes and songs and understanding the quantity 2 - so if you ask him to bring you 2 cars then he should understand that. He should also be mimicking counting but not necessarily getting the numbers right. This is from the foundation phase profile we use in Wales. He sounds just fine to me op.

Annabelle4 · 03/12/2017 10:29

I wouldn't worry at all. My ds only began to actually speak at 2.
He's a genius now Wink

Littlelambpeep · 03/12/2017 10:31

I wouldn't worry at all at just two. Just play lots and use lots of language and it will happen.

GentlyGentlyOhDear · 03/12/2017 10:32

My son is 2 years 4 months and doesn't know colours and gets some shapes muddled. He does basic counting of 3-4 objects and can recite numbers to ten, but his speech clarity leaves a lot to be desired. We often still struggle to understand him.
I was worried as was comparing him to his older sister who was streets ahead at that age, but at his 2 year review the HV said he is doing absolutely fine and it is completely normal. My DS is much more interested in running around and climbing and jumping.

Codlet · 03/12/2017 13:50

He sounds fine to me! My DS definitely couldn’t do those things when he was 2, but he’s really good at maths now (age 8).

BellyBean · 03/12/2017 15:12

Everything was green or red for a long time with DD. It'll come in time.

EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic · 03/12/2017 15:30

My DD didn’t really speak until she was 3. He’s doing fine 🙂

Sparrowlegs248 · 03/12/2017 18:30

They're all different. My son is 2yrs 4 months and has only just started speaking this last couple of week. He surprised me by "counting" (or reciting) from 1 to 7 yesterday. We count the stairs as we go up and down and his fingers and toes.

Ttbb · 03/12/2017 18:33

Mine could barely talk at that age. Obviously they caught up and the flew ahead as they got older. Don't worry about it, it just take some children a bit longer to 'get' counting.

theworldgonemad · 03/12/2017 18:39

It is absolutely normal. None of mine were counting at 2. As people have said it is more repetition when you here other children doing it or they could be child geniuses. Ps I was a child genius - evened out with everyone else by the age of 11 Grin

Seriously do not worry at all. Your DS sounds perfectly at the right stage of their development.

Phillipa12 · 03/12/2017 18:40

Me, one
Ds age2.3, one
Me, two
Ds, two
Me, three
Ds, DONKEY
I really wouldnt worry about it, all children develope at different rates.

Chaosofcalm · 03/12/2017 21:58

I googled when children learn colours yesterday as my DD is suddenly obsessed with colours. google says by the age of 3 children should be able to name 1 colour.

MaggieS41 · 03/12/2017 22:07

Another one to say don’t worry! My 2.5 year old only knows the colour blue, just now counts to 10 and talks like Yoda.

everywhichwaybut · 03/12/2017 22:25

You'll look back on videos of him muddling his words in years to come and say "aw!! Why was I in such a rush for him to grow up and move on?"
I was exactly the same 😝
Still am a bit.
He's still a baby, he'll get there.

pandacandour · 04/12/2017 07:47

My dd is 2.1 and can "count" 123 but it's not really counting she's just learnt it by rote! If you ask her how many fingers she has etc she hasn't a clue.

Before she said 123 she would always say "269" for some reason Grin.

Lules · 04/12/2017 08:05

My 2 year old’s ‘counting’ could be described as erratic. He knows the words of some colours but doesn’t know what they refer to. It’s fine.

mindutopia · 04/12/2017 10:48

He's so young. I wouldn't even be bothering at this age. Mine is 4 and in reception. She can count pretty well, but still switches some numbers around or skips one, which is normal even for school age children (and according to her teacher, she's very bright). At 2 he's just copying what you say and no really understanding numeracy yet, so I wouldn't sweat it. He has years still to learn this stuff.

Mol1628 · 04/12/2017 11:51

My 2yo didn’t know any numbers or letters, he’s now almost 3 and knows most of the primary colours and can count things up to ten. They change so fast at this age even a week can see such a big change in ability so don’t worry at all, just do lots of play and reading and they’ll all pick it up eventually