Three-year-old obsessed with numbers - normal phase or something more?

[Tiredboymuma]

My just turned 3 year old boy is absolutely obsessed with numbers and has been since he was I would say 18months old.

He can can count way beyond 100, it takes me ages getting anywhere when out with him as he’s reading number plates on all the cars, pavements and numbers in shop windows and just about anywhere with a number he will find it!

He recognises numbers in the hundreds and even thousands, usually getting them right. Can do basic math like 2+3/4-3 etc

Is this a normal phase? He’s not showing any other signs of being autistic, he’s a happy boy loves playing with other kiddies, has a good vocabulary and eye contact. Just from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep (sometimes with his numbers!) he’s mesmerised!

This could be his version of dinosaurs or diggers but it could mean more. Apparently when I was around 2 my aunt took my cousin and I for our jabs and afterwards gave us each a pack of dolly mixtures. My cousin very sensibly ate hers and I sorted mine by colour and pattern, very typical mathematical behaviour. I would encourage him but follow his interests. My DD showed an early interest in maths but soon dropped it and I let it go.
Theres tons of things that you can do to encourage him. For example look, and name shapes. Think about the number of sides, the differences and similarities of different shapes and object. Make pyramids and so on. Equally use analogue and digital times. How long until things happen, train timetables. Weather statistics might appeal. Maths is everywhere and isn't just about school maths.

Without other signs it sounds like he’s a bright little boy who enjoys numbers. Like the PP said, it could well be diggers, cats or Bluey that obsesses them at this age.

Our daughter was like this. She could tell 24 hr clock time age 2, could count backwards from 100 by age 3. She could recognise numbers in to the hundreds of thousands.
She loved even numbers and disliked odd numbers. Numbers were her “ friends” and she would wave at door numbers.
DD also had hyperlexia.
Her intense interest in numbers decreased as her social skills improved over time.

She had restricted eating, constipation, lots of sensory needs and poor fine and gross motor skills. Language was echolalic and she was often upset ( usually due to sensory needs or imperfection)
Our DD was diagnosed with SPD then autism age 3 1/2.

If he attends a preschool setting, have they mentioned any differences or difficulties? Have you had a discussion with your health visitor?

If as you say there are no other indicators, he may be gifted at maths.

He’s interested in all the things you listed, anything with numbers on, timetables, clocks, weather statistics etc. I’m encouraging him as long as he wants to be ☺️

He is a picky eater but is always trying new foods.

The only other thing he does is he doesn’t like wearing new clothes, anything he’s not familiar with he refuses to wear which I’ve put down as a sensory issue. If I distract him and managed to get an item of clothing on he initially refused and he then realises it’s ok he usually is fine. His nursery have been very surprised of his number skills and he’s just started tracing numbers with a pen.

Tracing numbers is great. You could look at lots of multisensory activities with numbers. Number mats for playdough, number cutters, making numbers from dough. Painting or chalking numbers, painting using water outside. Using a tray with sand or foam to mark make and write numbers. Order tactile numbers. Number treasure hunt etc.

He loves finding numbers I hide around the house on post it notes, he asks to do that most of the day 😅 When playing with Playdoh it’s the only thing he wants to do with it, cutting out numbers and putting them in order, sometimes he messes the order up himself so he can correct it himself ☺️

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/play-doh-number-activity-mats-ages-5-6-t-m-1657012603

Just need laminating. You can use an iron with laminating pouches. Baking paper to cover.

My son at 15 months could recognise most letter and could recognise them not just from ‘where is A’ but also words like ‘where is the mummy letter’ ‘where is the ball letter’. I was a bit worried too but it was just something he loved. He’s now 4 and he’s maybe a little ahead for his age (can read some basic word etc) but nothing crazy. I think tiny ones are even more clever than we give them credit for especially if they like anything. My nephew by 20 months could tell me names of dinosaurs even I couldn’t pronounce

I was going to say research hyperlexia as this sounds very much like a child I knew. However, he also had other traits which you say your DS doesn't have so could be that he is just very bright.

Print him out a 100 square - really good fun for seeing patterns and place value.