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How did/do you teach your child? (ABCs, counting, etc)

Posted 01/23/2013

After his 3 y/o appt yesterday, I realized as much as I've intended to teach this little sponge all the things he *should* know, that I haven't.  Not because he can't or won't learn, he LOVES learning (in small sessions), but because it's honestly slipped my mind and the fact that he's clothed, fed, active and happy have been my daily goals.  He knows his colors, he can say his ABCs, knows his shapes, but I realize that is because my mom really works with him, I don't know if I thought he was learning by osmosis or what!  So give me your tips, how did you tackle letter identification, number identification, writing (his pedi asked him to copy some shapes and letters, and he still was holding the pen like a scribbling toddler, he said "you need to work on his writing grip".. I hadn't even thought of it!).  I have flashcards, he's more interested in stacking them on top of each other and putting them away, he is resistant sometimes when he thinks he is learning something he doesn't know (but so proud when he does learn).

I know there's a lot of variation in terms of what they should know by now, but what bothers me is I know he COULD know all this stuff, if I took the time to work on it, which I plan to.  What techniques have you used? Do you set aside time each day?  Any products you use?  We have workbooks, flashcards like I said.. We have "Your Baby Can Read" that my MIL got him and I haven't even opened yet..I feel like I'm holding him back, and I want to push him forward!

Comments (17)

1 2
Posted 01/23/2013
I make it a game while we are reading to find a specific letter /word /number on each page depending on what we are reading. The same with street signs while we are out for a walk. We count while we bake or do legos. I try and have him write his own name on his drawings when he is willing. For things like birthdaycards to people letters to Santa and valentines cards I try to have him do a least some of the letters himself. Ill write the word on a seperate piece of paper and have him attempt it.We'll count the valentines too. It kind of is by osmosis really I don't specifically sit down and say we are learning numbers/letters right now. My 5 year old is less reseptive to it than I would like though so I may have to push the issue with him more but I think its more effective when it happens more naturally and not forced.
Posted 01/23/2013

That makes so much sense!  Thank you!

Posted 01/23/2013

I sent him to school Wink  Wish I had more time to teach him things at home but with a 6 month old and him and a full time job its hard.  So yea, preschool does the teaching here=)





Posted 01/23/2013

J wont go to preschool at least until the fall or even spring of next year, but I will definitely consider it (the fall) if I feel like I'm helping him fall behind!

Posted 01/23/2013
We incorporate learning in everyday kind of things too. Today I noticed the light posts in the parking lot were numbered. I showed her the number and asked her what it was. She said 2-8, 28!

She loves PBS shows and Umizoomi. I do let the TV reinforce these things.

At one point I did bribe her to read words. I would put out a flash card with the word CAT. If she read it she would get 3 M&Ms, one for each letter. I changed up the words and she did pretty well.

We have to work on fine motor skills here. She can write a few letters but I don't think her grip is right either. We string beads, lacing boards and use tweezers to pick up smallish objects. I also signed her up for an art class but I have no idea if that will help.
Posted 01/23/2013

Numbers he just sort of soaked up from the world around him - books, buses, videos. We were amazed that he recognized numbers 1 - 10 without us ever having done anything. We count everything, he helps with baking and putting plates on the table and socks in his drawer, etc. all the while we count.

Letters - he has magnets on the fridge and we spell out different words. We match his animal magnets with the word and he needs to find the beginning letter. We read a lot and I point out how common words are spelled. He has a little Vtech computer (which he uses only while pooping, kinda hilarious) which has helped him practice letters with different activities.

A lot of it has been led by him, I try to sit down and practice writing or whatever and I get resistence. I don't want to make him practice the letter A, I want him to want to, so maybe he is not ready to go there yet. He gets really proud when he draws a face that looks like a face or the other day he wrote the name Otto and he was so excited (Otto is the fish in the book A Fish out of Water). He sometimes holds the crayon/pencil well, but sometimes just grabs it. We have been doing connect the dots to practice letters and drawing shapes. I make them and number the dots and then help him connect. It's good because we are practicing numbers, shapes, letters and fine motor all at once.


Super Sam Arrived 11.30.09

Posted 01/25/2013

Like PP, I've 'bribed' my LO, but I make it into a game. I got some flashcards with the alphabet (lower and upper case). I lay out either set and give her the other set. I put a marshmellow on the set laid out and when she matches the lower with the upper or vice versa she puts the card down and picks up the marshmellow. Does that make sense? (Now that she can match all the letters we work on sounds, I say, Good job! What does B sound like?) She will do this for hours because she looooves marshmellows!

For letters, I also point them out everywhere. She recently figured out that there are words. Now she is really interested in what things say. So I spend alot the the day telling her what they say so I've started showing her alot of the same words (sight words) so she can memorize them.

Another favorite of my DD's is I make a big poster (unused newspaper--you can by the rolls at your local newspaper for 50 cents!) of whatever I want to work on. Letters, numbers, whatever. I tape it up on the wall, make the room really dark, and give my DD a flashlight. She LOVES it. I just ask things like where is the letter G? or Can you spell your name by pointing to the letters, etc. It can be used for any skill level.


I also incorporate learning into everyday play. For example, "Oh wow! Look at all those blocks you knocked down! Let's see how many fell! 1, 2, 3..etc. Do you think you can knock over more next time? You can incorporate learning into everything you play really.

Hope this helped, and Good Luck!

Posted 01/25/2013

Oh, and she has a Nabi that I downloaded a writing app on, and before using the app she could only write her name, now she can write lots of letters.

Posted 01/26/2013

We use a variety of things. I read to her, she uses the Ipad games, she has an Innotab 2 with math and letter game, she ahs an easel with chalk that we "write" letters, numbers on. Simple $1 workbooks from TRU or Target that you can sit down with him for about 20 mins a day and have him trace, do numner/word/ recorgnition, etc. E also do a LOT of talking when we are out. Look at the birds on the telephone posts, why are they up there?, When the light turns green, it means what? she will say go, red means stop, etc. ALso tv too sometimes, Umi Zoomi for math, I really missed the moose on Nick, he was great. 

She is also in school, I am a firm believer of preschool. My dd thrives there and at 2, they actively start teaching but in a very relaxed fun environment. 


DD-11-20-2009 DD 21 DD 24

Posted 01/26/2013

Games and puzzles and talking about what you see and read.  We have a kindle which we've downloaded a couple of math/reading apps, she loves to play these games.  We do flash cards for sight words and the same, earlier for the alphabet.  When we do puzzles it's how many animals do you see?  Can you see any white cars?  How many?  When we read, it's the same kind of thing, the party scene in Go Dog Go is especially good for this, as is counting the dogs in the bed.  If it's fun it's not avoided.  The flash cards aren't so fun, but if you show enthusiasm about correct answers and don't try to do too much at a time, getting it right is a reward in itself, to me, this helps instill a love of learning.  I think this is one of the most important gifts we can give our LO. 

Oh, and make cards and signs for special occasions like birthdays, nothing makes our LO happier than making a card for grandma "all by myself".

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