MY just turned 2 year old...how old should a child be when they can know?

Question

their alphabet, be able to count to at least 5 and know colors...I am trying to teach him these and he has no interest other than throwing the flash cards and stuff across the room.

Answer 1

With a day care and around small children all the time, I have found children learn at different ages. While he has no interest at this time don't push him to learn. Just show him, help him color etc, and one of these days you will be surprised when he says something and you will say "I didn't know he knew that". You are doing great in trying to teach him and will help a lot when he goes to school. Just don't expect him to do more than he is ready for and don't push, at least not yet.

Answer 2

Don't force it.
Two-year-olds don't need flash cards. They learn through play. My son recognized all the letters in the alphabet by 18 months, but it wasn't something we shoved down his throat. We just read a lot of books and played with foam letters in the bathtub. It was a game for him, and one he was interested in playing.
And, although a 2-year-old is perfectly capable of learning letters and reciting numbers in order, most aren't ready to make the cognitive leap to actually reading or actually counting objects. (My little boy -- he's 2-and-a-half now -- can recite numbers to 20, but ask him to count more than two objects on a page, and he can't do it. He also knows letter sounds and comes out with funny things like "B says, 'Buh' for booger!" but, beyond recognizing his own name and a few other common words, he's not ready to read.)
Keep in mind, too, that all kids learn differently and at different times. I struggled with reading early on but caught up and then shot way ahead when I was about 7. My little sister was reading everything she could get her hands on by 3. And I had a terrible time with math when I was a little kid -- but it was my favorite subject by high school!

Answer 3

He can know now. I wouldn't suggest flash cards at this age though. I'd do it more subtly. Count his cars. Count his shoes. Count his Cheerios. Even if it seems he isn't paying attention, children are sponges and soak up the information. Same with colors, point out he's wearing a red shirt, and blue pants. Point out the car is orange. The alphabet is the easiest, sing it to him. When he's in the tub. When he's sitting on your lap. If you are trying to get him to sleep. The information gets in his little brain, and he'll be even more ready when he's older. I did this with my 3 and they picked up the information alot quicker when they got older. They thought it was fun to count silly things, or pick out all the pink shirts in a book. Flash cards are for older kids.

Answer 4

I'd say 2 is kinda early. Most 2 year olds know some of their colors, etc. Plus flash cards aren't very effective at this age. Every time they pick something up, tell them the color. "You have the red ball! See the fire truck? It's red, too". Same with the alphabet. Make learning just part of playing, not some seperate thing you guys do.

Answer 5

I think this is more a "when they are ready" question. My daughter expressed an interest in the alphabet when she was about two and that is when I started the alphabet flash cards. She just turned three and she can write a couple of letters and loves to watch scrabble games. I think the key to getting kids interested in language is to read to them- the earlier the better! alot of children respond to books with rhyming like Dr. Suess and reading to your kids is like a gateway to alot of bigger and better things...language, reading, BONDING! And it also can be incorporated into bed time rituals making it easier to put your children to bed when they anticipate its story time and what else is to come!
But we as parents also have to realize not to set high expectations with the flash cards. Children have different learning and thinking styles. Perhaps your children are more interested in numbers, counting or colors as a introduction to flash cards. Its okay if they are not interested in it now!Through books and their peers they'll learn eventually. Its usually in preschool (three or four years old) when teachers start putting a stronger emphasis on reading and writing. But dont give up! Keep on reading to them!

Answer 6

Its good to introduce the concepts at that age, though flash cards may be fairly useless. Work the lessons into everyday exchanges with him and he won't even realize he's learning.

* Count the number of steps as you walk from room to room
* Count his fingers
* Point out the colors of different objects
* Sing the alphabet song, and point out letters while you're reading books

Laying the foundation will make it so much easier for him to learn later on.

Answer 7

It all depends on the kid. Sounds like yours isn't ready. Just try every once in awhile, when you do have his attention and he is interested do it only for a few minutes. Colors you don't need flashcards for. Point to things that are blue and say blue. That is a blue truck, etc. Count cheerios with him. Don't think by singing the alphabet song you are teaching them the alphabet, for them it's the same as learning any other song they don't quite identify it with the letters. But you can point to things and say that begins with the letter A or things like that. Once his attention span is better you can expand it to include flashcards and things like that. At this age reading to him is important even if its just for a few minutes.

The Abeka book homeschooling program have great supplies and things directed towards preschoolers and above. They are a great way to get your child reading for reading.http://www.abeka.com/abb.search

Answer 8

Both my boys surprised me with counting when they were almost 2. They just started counting something. My older boy counted to 10, the younger to 3. They could both sing their ABCs like a song but did not understand that they were letters until closer to three. My boys are much too smart for their own good so don't go by them. They sat up at three months and started talking at 5 months...it just keeps on like that. I sing the alphabet song from day one whenever I change a diaper or we are waiting for something, I count toes and fingers and anything else I can throughout the day and every night before bed, our routine includes songs that aid memorization of stuff (the ABCs, a number song, the planets, Do Re Mi, etc). We work on comprehension during the day. Forget the flashcards, they are only good to teach your kid to cut. Get legos or blocks and arrange them by color, play next to your child and encourage him to play with you. Count his tacos etc at dinner, count everything, everything. Sing the ABCs whenever you think of it. Put a label on everything in your house (just write neatly on a piece of paper and tape it up couch, TV, door etc). Make learning, just part of the day's playing and he will be singing along in no time. As for reading and recognizing, that will come starting at 2.5 all the way to 4.5. Some kids are lovers of words (my older is) and some like other things, songs, math, movement etc (my younger likes movement). Don't worry yet, worry when he approaches 4. Have fun and he will too.

Answer 9

Dont teach formally at this age. Just sing the alphabet song and point out letters here and there. Count with him when you're doing things, just do it in passing when he's active.

At this age they learn better when their bodies are in motion. Especially boys.

This is the time when you start teaching them these things, he should know that by 3 or better.

Answer 10

Do you think he will have a problem learning? If not don't try to teach him these things now. You aren't a teacher. And you might make him resistant to learning. I never tried to teach my sons and both could read before kindergarden because they naturally picked it up. Sesame Street is still top notch preschool - toddler education.

peopel who say their children knew ABCs an #'s at 2 are mislead. They trained their children to recite words not to learn concepts.

Wait until he is ready for preschool 3 or maybe even 4 for a boy. And let the professionals start it and follow their lead to reinforce the lessons.