Can you really teach a 2 year old the alphabet and numbers?

Question

Can you really teach a 2 year old the alphabet and numbers?

Answer 1

YES!

my daughter is 20 months old. she already knows the alphabet, numbers 1-9, all the basic shapes and all her colors!

she can't count and she can't sing her alphabet, that is a totally different story. but, if you showed her a letter or a number, she can tell you what it is!

if it's possible to teach a child that is younger than 2 years old the alphabet and numbers, then it's definitely possible for a 2 year old!

Answer 2

Of course! By 2 most are singing the abc song and can identify the letter that their name starts with.

They can count too.

If you teach them they will learn it! SD

Answer 3

Yes, my nephew is two years old. He is able to recite is ABCs, identify upper and lower case letters, and he can count to twenty.

Answer 4

Yes you can.  There are a lot of great resources out there to help with this process.  

My favorite that I have recently found is the following movie.  It is great.  I used it with my preschool class and even the younger two's were singing along on the second viewing.

http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Frog-Letter-F...

It can also be found at Wal-mart and other stores.  Our library and local blockbuster also have copies.  

Check it out.

Answer 5

Yes.  I taught my son through activities.  We count the steps when we walk up them.  We count the toys as we put them in tub.  We count ants as they crawl down the sidewalk.  I sing the alphabet song to him, after the first few times, I pause to let him insert the letter that goes next.  If he doesn't I sing it and move on.  Eventually he started singing the missing letters and then began singing it with me. Most 2 year olds are unable to sit and learn but they can learn through play and through one on one time with an adult.  Repetition is the key, the same as anything else for a 2 year old.  And don't forget, sometimes just because they aren't showing you that they are learning, they most likely are.  My niece refused to say her alphabet or count until one day they were at the grocery store and she started counting the ceiling tiles.  Then a few weeks later she got a book out and recited the alphabet while turning pages.  So just because it appears that they are not absorbing the information doesn't mean that they are not.

Answer 6

yes, you can.

the 2 year- old needs to focus on what you are teaching her or him.

good luck!

Answer 7

Some children can learn these by age 2.  Then some are barely talking so it all depends on their development.

Answer 8

Yes because this is the age were they begin to speak and figure out different sayings.

Answer 9

Yes, you can.

IF they are ready, not all children are, nor are they interested.  The best way to get them interested is to READ and give them a love of books.

IF you do it in a manner that is fun and no pressure.  Just PLAY with letters and numbers.  

Teach them the sounds rather than the names.  It is the sounds they need for reading.  For the vowels teach them the short vowel sounds.  

Play games with the letters.  Do alphabet puzzles which allow them to touch the letters.  Give them the sounds.  Don't "quiz" them all the time, putting pressure on them.  Just give them the sounds.  Encourage them to repeat the sounds.

For numbers, just count.  Count the cars that pass by.  Count their fingers.  Count the peas on their plate.  Count the rocks they collect.  COUNT, COUNT,  COUNT.

Most important, have fun.  Learning their letters and numbers by the age of 2, or 3, or even 6, should be an enjoyable experience.  Don't panic if another birthday hits and they still don't have it.  Just continue with more activities and they WILL get it.

Answer 10

Uh Yeah..... I was taught the alphebet and numbers when I was 2 if you can talk then you can learn to say them.

Answer 11

Yes!  sing them to him.

Answer 12

Of course. My dd was 18 months when she knew the song and could recognise the letters. Shortly after that she knew the letter sounds.

She loved the LeapFrog Letter Factory DVD and they have a magnet set for the fridge too.

Answer 13

Yes, I taught my twin 2 year old boy's the ABC's and to count to 10. It takes some time and a lot of patience.

Answer 14

yes, if they can say words.. All u have to do is keep studying with them..

Answer 15

at 2 years my son knew how to say the ABCs and Count to 15 in english and in spanish, but every child is different.

Not smarter or dumber just different.  Sometimes they don't want to do it, even though they can.

Answer 16

All children can learn sounds and concepts early in life and you should be reading and counting all the time with him.  What you should not be doing is structuring the learning so he perceives it as a chore or, worse, an obligation.  

When teaching numbers it's all about recognizing the number 3, the symbol for 3 and the quantity of 3.  I recommend the M&M Counting book - Ask him to put up his counting finger and have fun!  

good luck!

Answer 17

Yeah, at that age they might not necessarily understand them but they'll remember the pattern if you repeat it often enough over a long period of time.

Answer 18

yes very true even if you don't hear them saying the alphabet or saying the numbers they are still absorbing the information.

My first daughter knew them both at 2 1/2 but my 2nd daughter doesn't even seem interested in saying them. But I still teach them to her because I know she is listening !!! Some of the things I do are:

Read books about color and numbers

Sing songs about them

We also Paint quite a bit and that teaches colors easy

So does playdough!!!

Always remember they are listening to everything you say!!!!

That is why teachers call them little sponges

Answer 19

sure

Answer 20

Absolutely. My nephew was able to do this before he was 2.