What do you think the average two and a half year old should be taught, education wise?

Question

Do you think the alphabet, colors and shapes, counting to ten, and singing a few songs is enough, or should I go further. Should he have letter and number recognition at this age......etc?

Answer 1

We teach children 3 types of knowledge:

stuff they want to know
stuff they need to know (don’t touch, it is hot etc.)
and stuff society wants them to know (please, thank you etc.).

As a general rule people (and babies) will remember what they use so don’t teach them stuff they are not going to use.

So
alphabet . . debatable, I went for whole words. I started my first daughter of at 11 months and my second at 7 months (both v successful).
colours . . definitely they will use that skill
shapes, . . my (2nd) daughter’s 3rd word was ‘cok’ (ie clock) which she used for anything round so maybe yes
counting . . is he/she interested?
singing . . probably

Every child is different. At school they have to progress at a certain pace. You have 5 whole years where there is no hurry. What an opportunity. Teach whatever is successful. If you are patient you won’t get it wrong. Just remember what you are doing is unusual and there will always be doom mongers and nay sayers.

Funnily enough teachers aren’t much help (and I am one) because they deal with a very different situation. Just be cool, let it be fun for both of you.

I have to say (respectfully) I think Julia is quite wrong. I certainly would not commit myself to saying what the brain can/cannot do at that age. After all, they learn to talk . . . WOW!

Answer 2

I know that alot of people think that TV is bad for kids, but my daughter who is 2 1/2 has learned alot from watching Dora the Explorer. I have tried to help her learn her alphabet, colors, counting, etc. but she has learned it better from Dora.

At 2 1/2 she can count to 20, though she does get a little confussed sometimes after 14. She can sing songs like Happy Birthday and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

I do use those flash cards from Walmart and they work good.

Answer 3

Dora and Blues Clues are the BEST shows. My son is 2 1/2 and counts to 30 in english, 20 in spanish, and knows several spanish phrases. You cant teach them enough right now. Read lots of books and ask your child to point out objects in the pages. Ask them lots and lots of questions about the books. Just keep the knowledge comming.

Answer 4

Teach them to recognize basic colors and shapes. Familiarize them with the alphabet and numbers up to 10. Once they have the basics, go as far as they are comfortable handling more comlex concepts. Don't let it become a source of conflict - when they don't want to continue, STOP!

Answer 5

If you learn him all this and his brain isn't ready for it(he doesn't understand or misunderstands),he will have difficulty with understanding the same things when his brain is already to absorb it(by the age of 5-6).I wouldn't do it.It's another situation if the child is interesting in it and asks you by his/her own.Then you just explain.But if he/she doesn't ask this and isn't interesting,you shouldn't try to learn him/her now.The colors and a few easy songs are enough for that age.

Answer 6

colors shapes, yes counting to 5 yes (but my guess is they are not counting but are simply repeating the words for numbers without understanding why) so maybe not to 10- the alphabet not just yet... but the letters in their name yes...

what they really need to learn at this stage is mannars, sharing, compassion...you might not think this is education but it is.. even basic listening skills and comprehension - eg follow basic instructions

Answer 7

Sounds like you are doing a great job!!
Just don't push him, make learning fun at this age.
My granddaughter can do all this and she will be 2 the end of this month.
She knows animals and animal sounds and can recognize all of her letters and numbers to 10. My favorite is "G" for Gramma!!...lol
Keep up the good work!!

Answer 8

properly thats tremendous that she is so remarkable at 2.5 yrs. i'm a preschool instructor immediately for a school readiness application and interior the previous i turned right into a 2 year. previous instructor. i imagine you should bypass over colorations, her numbers, per chance the letters in her call yet its necessary in my application that toddlers have a aspect of self-help skills. even if it really is being waiting to inform a instructor if she has to apply the lavatory, feeding herself, getting substances for herself, playing properly with others, etc. i ought to easily advise to proceed to help her rising language and expand on the words she already is definitely-known with. also examine on your new child and help help her interest span. i understand the interest span of two year olds are not tremendous yet in maximum preschools, instructors assume them to sit for a short era of time and pay interest to a collection/circle time. i does no longer concentration too a lot on the tutorial stuff immediately(that in many circumstances has a tendency to %. up more advantageous at the same time as the youngster receives in direction of four) and get her excited for preschool. it is a huge replace in her existence and performance relaxing with it! solid luck!

Answer 9

it all depends.. i taught 2 year olds and the curriculm had us teaching spanish too. they knew how to count in english and in spanish. by the age of 3 they should be able to count to 20.. read a lot of books, and do a lot of arts and crafts.. practice teaching how to make a line and a circle.

Answer 10

No reason not to start him with it. My son can recognize capital letters and numbers up to 10. This is mostly from watching Sesame Street and passive learning (just from reading books to him with these features). He is 27 months.