how do you teach a 4 yr old abc's and how to count?

Answer 1

I have stayed home with my 3 yr old son since birth. Each day I would read, work on numbers, and work with him on his abc's. A child is tricky at times. They know more then what you give them credit for. They also WILL learn at their own pace. I knew my 3 yr old knew the stuff I taught him but he was playing me as a fool and I thought he wasn't catching on. I thought something was wrong and he was going to be a slow learner. At age 3 he wasn't counting or anything. He wouldn't even go use the potty. I was pulling my hair out. Well, my husband and I had to put him in daycare (I didn't want to and it broke my heart) because I have to have major surgery in the next few weeks and knew I couldn't take care of my son while it takes me time to recover. When I get over surgery he won't be going back to daycare. If he does he would only go maybe two days a week so he can be with other kids. I have no family here but I do have friends and they all work. The daycare we put our son is has brought everything I taught him in action. Our son now shows he picked up on everything we worked on for 3 years. It took him sometime to bring it out. I also said with him being around other kids has helped him as well. Please don't listen to anyone who tells you your child should be doing this at this age or that age. Each child learns at their own pace.
You can e-mail me with any questions at [e-mail].

Answer 2

Repition and play. He is not going to learn it overnight.

By 4, most kids can sing the ABC song but may not know that these letters have a function. By 4, most kids can count by rote..

What exactly are you wanting the child to know? That would change the strategy some-but still..repetition and play is the key. While 'Little Johnny' is playing with the cars and blocks-you can take the opportunity to sit down with him and count the cars or identify the letters on the cars and blocks. This is just an example.

They key is to take advantage of those windows of opportunities.

Answer 3

First off, all kids learn at different rates. So don't listen to the "they should have learned it by two crap"! If they can count to five go to ten, but if not don't overwhelm them. Work with fives,1-5 then 1-10. Make up songs, buy Cd's with the alphabet and numbers, to listen to in the car. Buy videos like blues Clues ABC's and 123's or like others have said Sesame Street is great. But try to watch it with them so you can interact with the TV. Play games. And also V-techs V-Smile is wonderful! Don't show frustration if it takes time, always make it fun. Also I highly recommend Head Start.

Answer 4

You should have been doing it naturally as a part of everyday since birth. "look, there is a 2!" All you needed was exposure and s/he should have it by now. If not, get an alphabet chart and review them. Make a game, spell his name everyday. Play games in the car... think of a word that starts with B- then say the sound. Give examples. Do you read to this child. Letters come from being read to. Don't wait for school to teach him. You can help this along a lot sooner.

Answer 5

Make it into a game like I spy. Make a word wall introduce a letter and a number every week. A word wall is a chart or a wall that has the letter and numbers posted up so the child can see them. Also fun educational videos can help like Elmo's Abc. Go to Walmart they have a variety of tapes, cds, dvds, and videos that can help him learn the numbers and letters and your not spending a arm and leg. you may also want to try getting some games for the computer. I found some CD-Roms at the dolllar store for my children at work that taught them the smae things plus colors, body parts, and shapes. They really enjoyed the computer games.

Answer 6

Sing the alphabet song on a regular basis, your child will pick it up quickly. Then, start reading alphabet books, there are zillions out there. A great one to start with is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Always, read to your child, (ABC books and picture books) they will make the connection between the symbols on the page and true meaning. Finally, buy crayons and paper and after much doodling try drawing some letters. Os are the easiest, followed by Qs. For counting, whenever you serve your child a snack, count out the objects in front of him/her. For example, you are serving pretzel sticks, count out the sticks as you serve them. Concenrate on 1-10 then add on after that. It is also fun to make letters and pictures with the pretzel sticks.
Above all, have fun and converse with your child. The world will open to you both!

Answer 7

I've been reading all the other answers and there are some good ones! I've been teaching pre-schoolers for over thirty years and the best way to teach a child is thru repetition. Songs and rhyming games. Every thing can be sung to a tune of your choosing! Over and over as many times and as many different ways as you can invent. Children catch on at different ages. Depends on their own personal wiring. Some catch on to numbers and letters and talk sooner others are more apt to ride bikes and do cartwheels. They all seem to catch up to each other eventually so just enjoy where the child is at and make sure the learning is enjoyable for them. Most of all enjoy each moment for all too soon they grow up and those moments are gone!

Answer 8

have the child count real objects like popcorn or jellybeans or spoons or toys or blocks
read at least on abc book every day to the child and you can read the same one for a week or two in addition to other storybooks.
kids love abc puzzles and games and working with magnetic letters

Answer 9

I used leap frop's Letter Factory and Word Factory to teach my son the ABC's and use Flashcards/matchig game for number recognition! We made the flashcards ourselves so it was hands on. We made a game out of it. He now recognizes all letters and sounds. He can also recognize his numbers. He often annouces that he recognizes the abc's and numbers at grocery sores, books,and in his name. He can also trace his letters and numbers. But my son has been doing this since he was 2 years and 9 months old. It really takes you as his parent or guardian to get him/her motivated in reading and numbers. My son's eyes light up when he recognizes letters and some number in a book he is reading or in a book I maybe reading. Take time to read to him/her. If she/he sees you read, children become intrested. Remember children only need to recognized their names before Pre-K. Be encouraged! Ingrid C

Answer 10

Get very creative and make up silly games. I used a TON of cheap, left over, plastic easter eggs. I would put numbers and letters on them and hide (just like at easter). Hand the kids a basket and tell them to find only "A" or "2". Reward them with stickers or a stamp (or my favorite...Chuck E Cheese tokens to be redeemed later)

I would also break the eggs apart and put capitals on one side and lower case on the other and have the kids match them, who ever matches first wins (if there are no other players, you play along too, just make sure neither of you win all the time)

We also went on a 'letter scavanger hunt" where I gave thema chart with the letters (upper and lower case) written out and we tried to find them all first. This game also works well to teach Phonics later, instead of looking for the letters, look for items that start or end in that letter.

You can also use pre-made games like "B.I.N.G.O" to teach letters, use alphabet flash cards to play "memory" with or even buy handheld 'video' games to help teach these skills. My kids LOVE their Leapsters (by Leap Frog) but V-Tech also makes one and these systems sell games to keep challenging your child as they grow. (we've had our Leapsters for 2 years and they still get played everyday!)

What ever you decide, have fun. Learning doesn't have to be a chore, you can teach without you child even knowing, and have them begging for more!