Is there something wrong with my daughter?

Question

She will be 3 in Feb and she still doesnt know any colors or her ABCs and doesnt know how to count to 10 yet. I work with her and she watches Sesame Street and Dora and Blues Clues and all kinds of educational things.
She can talk very well though.

Answer 1

there is nothing wrong with her maybe try enrolling her into preschool

Answer 2

ABC's Counting and Colors are things children learn with repitition. Most parent think that the TV shows you mentioned are educational, but the truth is they simple are not. Three year olds learn activitely by doing. They are not excellent visual observers and do not acquire as much from television as one may think. I suggest you choose two days a week that the TV is not turned on at all. On those days let her play, if she joins you while folding clothes label the colors while you work, have her match the colors and place them is small baskets. When loading the dishwasher count the forks, spoons, plates etc. Sing the ABC song in the car, in the bath, when on a walk.

More than any thing decrease the TV watching and just play with her.

Answer 3

I'd run her by a developmental psychologist. Even my son, who is developmentally slow, was doing those things by 3. Maybe she's just concentrating on her language and will pick up other stuff later. Then again, my brother knew NONE of that stuff before he went to school. Mom kept him home from kindergarten because he was too shy and too attached to her and she felt he wasn't ready. Then she dropped him right into first grade. He was the quietest kid in the class, but there was lots of cogitating going on.

I want to tell you that I can see that you are a good mom. You're working really hard to make sure your daughter has every advantage. Your daughter is a lucky girl!

You don't know how many kids show up to school not able to talk proper english because they've been raised by the TV and MTV. They know nothing about colors or numbers or ABCs. It's a crying shame.

Take care,

TX Mom
not an expert

Answer 4

I have a 2 year old and she is just now saying a few words; she doesn not know her ABC and I know she can't count to ten. Give her sometimes; you said she was talking well and I am sure she is soaking up things by watching Dora, Blues Clues and Seasame Street. Please give her some time, she just might not be ready yet. I would talk to her Dr, about it when she has her 3 year check up.

Answer 5

It probably isn't that she doesn't know them because most likely she does but she doesn't care to show you that she knows them. Not to confuse you, but maybe it just bores her to sit and repeat what you ask her. I have no doubt she knows her colors. If every time you showed her an object and she said yellow to everything then I would think she probably knows but yellow is her favorite color. My son is 2 years 9 months and he knows numbers, letters, and colors and shapes. However, for a while he knew them but refused to tell me. Yet, I bought him some puzzles, and he will put the numbers in a count to 10. He counts when he comes down the stairs. Just observe her and see. Mention it to the pediatrician next time you are there. I am sure there is nothing to be concerned about. Remember all kids learn at different paces. It doesn't mean one child is smarter then the other and they don't ever measure iq until they are older and the brain has finished growing.

Answer 6

I wouldn't worry too much. She may have it all in her head, she just isn't expressing it yet. Kids learn at different paces and express themselves differently. As long as she's talking and interacting, then I'd just keep working with her. Is she in a preschool/Mother's Day out program? It may help her to observe other kids saying the ABC's or counting. If you can't get her in a program, just keep working with her. There are also puzzle/games geared toward 2-3 year olds that can help with numbers/letters. Who knows? One day she could just recite the entire alphabet...forwards AND backwards and count to 100! Good luck!

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. My son is about to turn 5 next month, and just now started saying his ABC's correctly. He has known them since he was about 2 1/2, but for some reason wouldn't say them or would say them incorrectly on purpose. Maybe she is kind of doing the same thing, afraid to mess up if she says them so she doesn't say them at all.

With all the educational shows she watches I'm sure she knows them, even if it is just subconsciously. She might feel "on the spot" when you ask her and she gets scared.

What I used to do was start saying them but do them wrong, and my son would correct me saying the right letter or color. That way they are doing it but don't realize it and don't feel like they're being made to do it.

Answer 8

My kid used to watch educational videos but then I read an interesting article that kids don't benefit from it because they space out and it won't sink in.
Your daughter has plenty of time to master her colors and ABC's and counting, she isn't even 3 yet, just don't pressure her though, otherwise, she won't be motivated to learn. Maybe you can consider your daughter to go to a reputable preschool part time (check the Better Business Bureau first) so she can be around children and learn different things.

Answer 9

She should probably know colors by now but as far as ABC,s she probably wont really know much about except for the song. She should be counting to at least 5. If you are worried about it just work on it with her, don't pressure her and make it fun.

Answer 10

Every child is different. Some learn faster than others. Try getting her some flash cards and find some books with colors, numbers, letters, etc. It will help her to learn if you read to her every night at bedtime too. You can't just plop a kid in front of the TV and expect her to learn everything from there. You have to work with her consistently.

Answer 11

My daughter took a little longer to learn her ABC's and to extend your talking skills. Don't worry about. If she hasn't improved by the time she is 5, you can take her to a speech pathologist, who can help her with her speech and reading problems. But don't worry all kids develop at different times. My son was talking but not walking at 10 months - he was ordering me around until his sister was born and he had to learn to walk because I couldn't pick him up all the time. My daughter was walking at 10 months and started to talk between 2 and 3. She is now 7 and has a Speech Pathologist helping her with her reading and speech. She is up there with the other kids with this help once a week.