Son Recognizes Most Letters but Not Numbers - Normal?

Updated on April 02, 2012
S.S. asks from Los Angeles, CA
5 answers

My son will be 3 in June and he already recognizes most of the letters, recognizes his name when written, etc. He also can count the number of objects up to 10 but doesn't seem to recognize the numbers if written down on paper. Is this normal?? Thanks!

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Thanks so much!!! :)

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A.W.

answers from Seattle on

completely normal! Counting is different than visually seeing numbers. Just like your son probably knew the ABC song way before he even started recognizing letters....

5 moms found this helpful
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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

You have a clever son! :)

If you want to help him associate the written number with his counting, you can draw a certain number of dots, make him count them and then write the number (eg. 3 dots, son counts one, two,three, you say "well done"! three - this also means 3 (write digit) then reinforce - u see ... 3 dots is the same as (point to written number). Using that same idea, you can use objects to play "counting games" and maybe use cards with the digit written on it, to illustrate what you have just counted. Eg here are two bananas - two looks like this (point to card with digit written on it). Eventually you can ask him to put the correct card next to the 2 bananas or 3 pegs etc. Just have fun with him and keep "educational" games short so they stay fun and don't become a "chore". Enjoy your awesome boy! :)

3 moms found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

It sounds like he is doing just fine. If he is recognizing letters, he is a bit ahead. The rest will catch up, no rush.

3 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

Of course it's normal. He's ONLY THREE. He has to learn all of this by rote memorization. He's not only learning to memorize letters and numbers but he's still learning words... language, sentence structure, not to mention social skills and everything else that comes along with being only three. He's far ahead of where many, many 4 and 5 year olds entering preschool would be.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.O.

answers from New York on

He's not even 3 yet, and he recognizes most letters, plus can write his name? Relax mama, he's way ahead of schedule. You've got a smart little boy on your hands.

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