At what age should a child be able to identify letters?

Question

At what age should a child be able to identify letters?

Answer 1

by age 4

Answer 2

My son is 3 and knows most of his letters...but all children progress differently

Answer 3

Anywhere from three years old to five years old.  When they start preschool they should know this.

Answer 4

Never.

Answer 5

Knowing the names of the letters is not as important as knowing the sounds the make.  So as we began doing puzzles, alphabet books and such with Douglas we would say the sounds rather than the letter names.  For vowels we told him the short sounds.

Douglas is 3 1/2.  He can now read books that contain short vowel words plus a FEW sight words.  In another week or so, I plan to start teaching him the long vowel sounds.

Charles is 23 months.  Because he watches EVERYTHING his brother does he is now constantly pointing to words and asking what they say.  He points to individual letters and will attempt to name them saying whatever letter comes to his mind.  Though he can always pick out M and W correctly, and usually S and T.  Because of his interest we are beginning to work more with him and I am sure he will pick it up as easily as his brother.

Answer 6

Probably after a year of watching Sesame Street so anytime after 3 they should be able to recognize letters and associate them with the sound.

Answer 7

A child can learn to identify a letter as early as 20 months (that is show them a letter and they tell you what letter it is) but, to actually know the sounds to put it to use that comes later.  Around 4 or 5 years depending on the child.  I am a pre-school teacher and work with children 18-24 months and I have had children in my class that could name the letters in the Alphabet (they were all uppercase letters).  These children also had mom or dad working with them at home.  If you make it a fun time they will learn.  Do not push them though.  If you try to push it and get frustrated then they will not want to learn.  Most children do not learn the letters this early but, it is possible.

Answer 8

4-6

Answer 9

I've always thought this is something that should be taught by the parents before they start school.  They don't have to be that good at it yet, but they should know most of them.  I think a lot of people would disagree with me, though, and say that they learn it in kindergarten or first grade.  My son has known his letters since he was about 21 months, but isn't reading yet.  That part is a little harder.

Answer 10

at age 3

Answer 11

they should be able to identify letters by the age about 2-3 years old

Answer 12

It depends. it depends on both nurture and nature. u must personally teach it how to read, buy simple basic books and read to them. also do stuff like make letter cards and play games with them. you can also teach them to write the letters at the same time. sooner or later they will have the letters inched in their brains and it will be very easy for them to excell in nurseries or kindergardens.

Answer 13

At about age 3 to 4. By Five they should know all the letters, and most of the sounds they make.

Answer 14

This is different for every child. Children develop at different rates, even when they are being taught the same thing...for example: in a preschool you might have 10 or 12 four years olds being taught their letters everyday...but by then end of the school year, only 6 or 8 may know the letters...and perhaps a few may know the letter sounds (which is way more important!)

Generally speaking though, a child will learn if exposed in a fun, meaningful way, and they will learn better if the concepts are reinforced at home and at school, and done so repeatedly, but not in such a way as to be boring...learning/teaching should always be fun!

Knowing letters and letter sounds is an exit requirement for Kindergarten, not an entrance requirement.

To further answer your question...children are able to learn their letters (and numerous other things) at a very young age...but it takes commitment on the part of the adult in that child's life.

Answer 15

Identifying letters isn't like walking or speaking--there's no specific age that they 'should' know it, other than standards that adults have decided (and yet many children still don't meet them).

Kids in Montessori schools often know their letters at age 3-4. In other preschools here, the kids might work a bit on letters, but they aren't expected to know all of them until probably in K, but like I said, a lot of kids don't meet the expectations and may continue working on this in grade 1.

Answer 16

if you work with them, then by the time they are in pre-k. my kids could right and recognize the letters in their names by 4

Answer 17

Children varies according to their intelligence and guidance of parents;some children can identify the alphabet at age three, some 4 and some 5. Parents have a great influence over their children.

Answer 18

around kindergarden like 4-6

Answer 19

I would say, that instead of a number, it is whenever you encourage and teach them letters. A child learns what it is taught and exposed to, so if you teach a child they will learn.

I suppose that once they learn complex speech would be a good time to work with them on the alphabet.

However if you are worried about your child not learning at a set pace like in school, first don't panic, second just work with them. I say don't panic because kids do learn at their own pace. You as a parent should work with them in this situation and help with homework to ensure your child keeps up.

If your child lags way behind ensure that you get them tested for possible learning disabilities. And remember that these are disabilities, they're obstacles not walls. Especially if caught early your child can overcome many simple disabilities like dyslexia.

Best wishes.

Answer 20

Depends if someone is teaching them their letters.  I started showing my kids the letters of their name early on.  As a result, my son & daughter could recognize their name letters by age 2.  My son wrote his name (and all other letters) legibly at 4.

Answer 21

preschool (ages 4-5)

the earlier the better... i started teaching my bro to read and write when he turned 3...

Answer 22

It depends on how much time a parent spends teaching their child, and at what age the parent(s) begin to read and show them what letters are.  I started reading to my son when he was 2 months old, and I made cut outs of the ABC's using construction paper and taped them to his wall.  I would go in my son's room and dance around with him, singing and pointing to the letters.  He just turned 2 years old and can recognize his letters, and sings the alphabet song, although he does have still have trouble pronouncing some of them.

Answer 23

5-6 years old

It'll only understand language fully at 7 years, since it's brain still is making the necessary structures to cope with language.

Answer 24

My two oldest were both able to recognize and name most if not all of their letters by the time the ended pre-K (4-5).

Answer 25

i know a little kid who is 3 and a half and he knows most of the letters and their sounds. he gets a little confused when it comes to c and k cuz they make the same sound.

Answer 26

It depends upon the child and his/her capabilities. But, if I had to pinpoint an age at least 4.