3 yr old son. can sing abc's but doesn't recognize what letter is what. how do i teach him this?

Question

I made flash cards, a- z. last night i just started with A B C. he was calling letter A , "b". and letter C, "g".

we tried for 20 minutes, he started to cry, he didnt understand. And it doesn't make any sense, he can count to hundred. and he can point out and name pretty much everything in sight. shapes, colors, animals, he has it all down, but letters are just not happening. i need some advice------

he is also in pre- k. he was in a regular three year class, but they combined classes, because there wasn't enough 3 yr olds. so right now he is keeping up with the four year olds, well so they say, but since, last night, i don't think he is keepin up, he was refusing to try and name letters. help!

Answer 1

I am a Montessori teacher and I believe that it is easier for them to say the sound of the letters verses the name. This will also help the transition to reading. They will already know the sound. I have 3 and a half  to 4 year olds reading in my classroom because of this.

Good luck

Answer 2

Don't push him, or he will begin to hate learning!  But, do check Usborne Books for a great system called the Learning Palette.  This system is non-electronic and has learning cards for alphabet, counting, and more - from preschool age to elementary/middle school.  You can buy it here:  http://www.ubah.com/g2687

Also, they have great flashcards that can help an early learner - since he cannot write yet to do workbooks.  Good luck!

Answer 3

He could be dyslectic.

Answer 4

You son's right on target for his age.  Abstract concepts such as identifying letters and numbers don't mean much to most three-year-olds.   The fact that he can sing the alphabet doesn't mean he knows what he's singing.  He's learned music and rhyme.  That's   all and that's okay.

I'm sure he can name shapes, colors, and animals. I'll bet he can pick out his favorite cereal or treat in the grocery store too.

Refusing to name letters and crying is a sign of frustration.  I'd leave this alone for now.  He'll be ready in a few more months or a year. And even if he doesn't tune into these concepts until age 5 or 6, that's still well within normal limits. I know you don't want to push him so hard that it turns him off to reading.

I wish you and your little one well.  Pre-school is pre-school...not first grade.  Your little one sounds just fine to me.

Answer 5

I am a parent as well as a teacher, I have a BAS in early childhood education as well as half of my Masters in special education.  I would suggest not using the flashcards and making it a fun thing to do.  Use messy things such as pudding and cool whip or shaving cream to write the letters in, or make a matching game where there are two of every letter,(I would suggest starting with capital letters) and have him match them up, you may need to reduce them and use only 5 letters at a time or so, when he matches the letters say the name of it.  I would not suggest what others have and teach him the sounds unless he is going to a montessori based preschool right now, it will cause confusion.  I think that children this age are definately cabable of knowing their letters and by the time they turn four they should be writing the letters of their name, they may not be in order or on a line, but they should know how to spell it.  If you need a further resource on what your child should know at what age you can look into your state's department of education, and there you will find the state standards.  Keep in mind that these standards are the goals that should be mastered by the end of the year stated (say it is a preschool standard they should master the goals by the time they are four, or one year before entering kindergarten, if it is a pre-k goal they should master it by June of the year they are going into kindergarten).  I live in Ohio and we have Early Content Standards that the centers and preschools go by.   Your state may or may not have them for younger years, but definately will have them for Kindergarten- 12th grade.  Hope this helps!!

Answer 6

I have a Bachelors in Education so you don't think I'm just a rambling parent. Recognizing letters is not a 3 year old skill. At 3 you should feel an accomplishment if he can recognize all of his colors and shapes. Letter recognition is a late 4 to 5 year old skill. Pressuring him will make him hate it even more. If you want to make it fun get some shaving cream or whipped cream and let him draw his letters in them.  Keep it fun and not so much drilling him for information. Point out the M in McDonald's or the P in pizza. Remember that the most mixed up letters are d, b,q,g,p. Just have fun with it!

Answer 7

Well he is only 3. Mabey you are pushing him to much so mabey needs a little break when he messes up with his letters.

Answer 8

First of all let me start of by commending you for wanting the best for your child. However, please remember that your child is only 3 years old. The fact that he even listened to you for 20 minutes is amazing! It's wonderful that he is able to do all of those other things (shapes, colors, animals). Please give him a break. If you are really adamant about having him gain letter recognition then maybe you could try a game like alphabet bingo. Please, please, please do not try to force letter recognition on him and do not get him to the point of crying. This frustrates him and may make him lose some self confidence. If you see him getting ready to reach his breaking point....STOP! If he is upset, frustrated, etc. it will only cause him to not enjoy learning. Focus on the positive and what he can do,  the rest will fall into place.

* With alphabet bingo you could make bingo mat/board with various pictures with the corresponding letter. Then make cards of the same pictures and letters and have the child (or yourself) call out the letters. Have the players fill up all the spaces on the board and yell "BINGO!"

**Take a rectangular piece of paper and divide it into 8 squares. Draw (or use the computer for images) different images with the corresponding letter (one for each block). Ex. C and then a picture of a cow. Make a couple of these boards. Encourage other family members or friends to play with you and your son.

**Then take some paper and cut into squares. Each of those squares should have a picture with corresponding letter. A-Z

**Be sure to do it with things he can readily identify and enjoys

Answer 9

for a three years old he is on track but if you want to teach him the letters this is what you should do. every week introduce one letter and don't go a,b,c no mix them, like the first week c the week after is w. each week talk about the letter the words that starts with that letter and to make it more fun at night before bed time read him a book and let him fined the words that have the letter a in them. you can also give him a magazines and let him cut the pictures that start with that letter. and this way you are teaching him the letters and the sounds at the same time. you have to make it as much fun as you can and don't force him. good luck

Answer 10

He's still young.  A three year old is not expected to know all of his letters.  The tears are an indication of his frustrational level.  This is where all learning stops!  He is not refusing, he is just not developmentally able to do it yet.  He will...especially in a rich environment that is stress free!

Good Luck and congrats that your three year old is able to so much already!

Answer 11

It's not right to teach your son this!  He's too young!!  There will come a time when he's ready for letters and reading but you can't pressure it.  If you keep pushing him, you might create dyslexia (proofed).

So put the cards and the letters away for a while, you'll know when he's ready to learn it.

Answer 12

I am a kindergarten teacher. He sounds like he is doing great with what he already knows! 3 is still really young but if you keep reinforcing letters AND SOUNDS he will retain it a lot sooner than K. Try labeling everything in your house (sounds pretty, huh)? But it will work. he will associate letters with names. Like Bathroom, cabinet, etc. Then you can say "/c/ like cabinet." This works.

Answer 13

write/draw the letters as you sing the song together

you could even make a slide show

Answer 14

Just read to him and make it incidental. Like if you see a STOP sign, point out that it starts with an S. Then when you see a sign for Subway, point out that Subway also starts with an S. If he thinks of letter recognition as a game then it will be more fun and he'll start looking for letters. Also point out what sound they make, as we don't need to know letter names to read.

Answer 15

You have already started in the right direction by making flash cards.  Don't rush him.  He's just 3.