How do I help my child recognise numbers?

[mmmmmchocolate]

DD is 3.9, can recognise 0 and 1. Sometimes 2 but not reliably. We've just had her mid year report and it's getting to the stage where she needs to recognise them to progress. She's considered behind in this area in her year group. How can I bring her up to speed?

Hopscotch! Thats a good idea leeloo if the weather is nice again tomorrow and she's feeling better we will give that a go.
DD doesn't really show herself to the teachers, she is very quiet and shy there. It was a shock for me to see what she is like at school, she is normally a full of energy, fun 3 year old! One of her goals on the report was to learn the 2D shapes but she has been able to do this since before her 2 year check at 2.3 years.
It's got me worried that I've managed to teach her 2 numbers in one day and she almost knows 2 more, that I'm wondering what shes getting from school

leeloo she has a pretty good understanding of what they mean she can count most things correctly its just recognising them and being able to relate that 6 = etc.

There were 6 stars when I posted that. I can count, honestly

Dont worry mmmmmm there is a lot more to being at nursery than learning numbers - it's not really about teaching IMO, I'm sure she's got loads out of her time there :)

your poor DD, no wonder she has an issue with recognising numbers!

I wasn't meaning to imply you didn't count things with her, just saying theres more to maths than recognising the symbols. :)

Thinking about it, on the magnadoodle thing we also played a game where I wrote numbers along the top then together we counted the right number of stamps to go underneath. So he could (hopefully) see the number/array correspondence.

With children in school (reception age) I also played a game where we had A4 'leaves' with 0-10 numbers on and ladybirds with 0-10 spots, we took turns to count the spots (very much led by me with the children that found counting harder) and find the right leaf to put them on. They loved this (especially when I made a 'mistake'), and it was pretty simple to make.

Argh, DS trying to help me type now, but hopefully helpful ideas. :) She's still very little, so don't worry too much, but it sounds like she's picking it up quickly with you. Nursery/ school is always a high child to teacher ratio and if she's not showing her full potential there then its great you're able and willing to work with her. :)

I am shocked about your post! She is in pre-school for god's sake! 'must recognise numbers in order to progress'! As UnSerpent said, she should be playing and chatting about things she is interested in, there is so much more to be learned than numbers and quite frankly pushing her to recognise numbers is not the best thing a 3 year old could be doing with her time. Sure, talk and point out the numbers in the street or play games with them if she is interested, but if not I would leave it or you could put her off the whole thing.

Oh, and I don't think there should be any formal learning sessions in pre-school, it is not recommended. Usually, children who start later progress a lot faster and soon catch up. Some people think that the earlier they start the more they learn, but it just doesn't work like that - you just might put them off learning.

In most of Europe formal education doesn't start until age 6 and there good reason for this.

The early learning centre have a numbers mat. It is made up of squares that fit together. Each square has a different number on it. The numbers can be taken out.

My DS (just 4) is very visual and likes to hold things. He learned his numbers from this mat. Now we are playing with the letters mat.

I get him to stand on certain letters etc We make different games up.

Sometimes I hide different letters (used to do this with numbers) around the house and he finds them and then fits them into the square they belong to.

We also have a number poster in the kitchen which my DDs like to point to and count. I think just introduce numbers in your every day play. Have you got any magnetic numbers? You could start with 1-3 and play a game, let your DD write on the wipe board if she gets the correct number (mine loved this!). You could also use a tray with sand, help your DD to finger trace the numbers. She will soon pick them up!
I know what you mean about her being left behind though, but I'm sure with your help she will soon begin to remember them!

Or - flash cards with numbers on (Usborne do them I'm sure).

Then I make a little washing line and DS and I peg the numbers up in their order. We don't focus a lot on the numbers - he's more into the pegging, but I'm sure he's absorbing a lot of the numbers as part of the game.

After that we take them down and match them to the numbers on the numbers mat.

DS really enjoys doing this. We don't do it that often, but its helped I'm sure.

I am a CM and at last parents evening a parent voiced their concerns about their 2 yr old boy not knowing as many letters as his sister knew at the same age. I pointed out that he was much more able at climbing trees, jigsaws, etc than she was at the same age. All children are different and develop at their own pace through play. There is no harm in pointing out numbers, letters etc to them in every day life, but I am amazed that anyone would expect 3 yr olds to all develop at the same pace!

Agreed 2cats2many, watching Numberjacks is a brilliant way as their number is their name. My youngest loved them and had her numbers sussed quickly. Now she likes looking for numbers as we are out as the programme encourages them to do. Good luck

My daughter learnt to recognise her numbers from watching Numberjacks - she didn't even realise she was learning and absolutely loved watching them. DVD's are available if they are not currently on BBC

I would be horrified if my daughters (3.9) preschool told me as she cannot write her name or recognise 1-10, therefore was behind. They are still so young! Whats the rush in this country, i find it so sad :o(
I'm certain she will be all over it when she gets to school! Please dont worry x

That was supposed to be a sad face above not a grin!

your dd is still young, it will come.
my ds is 4.6 and can recognise some numbers, I am not worried he will learn soon enough when he starts school.
he recognises 2 (looks a bit like a swan), 8 (snowman) and a few others.

DD (3.8) is very good with numbers, but I think it is 'her thing'. She struggles to write her name - her nursery, DH and I are aware, but she shows no interest in wanting to learn to write her name and we are certainly not going to push her. She seems to be a perfectionist and when she does try to write her name, because it doesn't look 'perfect' in her eyes, she loses interest very quick!

I wouldn't worry too much about certain skills like your preschool have mentioned. I was talking to the assistant manager of DD's nursery last week and she said that there are a broad range of skills that are considered when a child moves up from nursery to reception - some are academic based, such as writing, number and letter recognition etc, but others are social skills such as role play, playing with others etc. I am a bit surprised your preschool expect your DD to have reached a certain level of attainment already as EYFS continues until the end of the reception year.

I second those who recommend getting things like a calendar - we have this one for DD and she loves it. We also have some basic board games, such as snakes and ladders (we have a Dora Explorer one that has a circle wheel numbered 1-6 instead of a spotted dice) and a bus game where you count the passengers on and off the bus. I also second the ideas about playing hop-scotch etc.