My 4 1/2 year old can't say his ABC's and he can't count to 10 is this normal or is he falling behind

Question

I'm just wondering if I need to get extra help for him?

Answer 1

This is probably normal.  It is true that more is often expected, but the fact is that children truly do not learn well what their brains are not yet ready to learn.  It is usually best to provide as many low-pressure opportunities to interact with a variety of situations and let your child develop at his pace.  Much more often than you think, children simply grow up and out grow any perceived "delays" at this age.  

So sing the ABC song, teach him counting rhymes, play with blocks and other objects to count, teach him about how to write his name, and read, read, read with him.  If this is all done in the context of play your son will likely engage with you and surprise you with what he "learns" along the way.  If he's bored, give him a break and play together again later.  Kids this age should spend most of their time playing and learning and very little time in front of TV or video games.  They've got to be interacting to learn.  So make sure you're giving him lots of opportunities and then likely you can relax.

If you're still worried, a pediatrician could do a quick developmental screening or recommend someone else to do one.

Answer 2

Well is he a social child? Does he interact with children his own age?  If he isn't social, maybe he is just shy and needs to find a group of children he is comfortable with.  If he has yet to start a preschool program or attend a program with other children his age, maybe you should enroll him in one.  Have you tried to teach him is ABC's and numbers.  Not every child learns at the same pace and boys a slightly behind girls.  I don't think I would worry too much.  Try to get him interacting with other preschoolers.  Try talking to him while at the store, doing everyday task, not just to "teach" him information.  If he is talking and interacting with you, then i think it will develop when it is his time!  

Answer 3

I can't say for sure, but I work in early childhood education, and our kids can recite the abcs and count around the time that they are 2 1/2, though the slower learners get there around 3. Some of our four-five year olds can count in spanish up to ten.

Answer 4

The first thing you have to understand is that every child is different and learns at a different pace. Your child may suddenly have that light bulb turn on tomorrow. When you say he can't say his ABC's is it all letters? or just a few he has trouble with? some children sound like they know because they have memorized a song but if you ask them to separate those letters they have problems (i.e. the famous lmnop becoming lamop) I would say that your child is a bit behind average but do not give up, I had a child in first that went from not being able to read to reading in one day. Sometimes they just suddenly get it. You may want to run some flashcards with him or look into games you can play to get him ready for school, but with most children just a little extra help from parents is enough to catch them up.

If you are still worried talk with his pre-k teacher if he has one or with his kindergarten teacher when he gets one and they will be able to assess your child. They may recommended that he be taken out of class a few times a week but it's just to get that little bit of extra attention he may need. They should be able to get him up to speed.

Just remember every child is different and they will learn things at their own pace... even if it's killing you. :)

  

Answer 5

this used to be normal, but kids are taught their abcs & 123s earlier & earlier these days, so yes, he may have a hard time catching up with his classmates later on. you don't have to get extra help. just buy some activity books for preschoolers and sit down with him every evening

Answer 6

it's normal. he'll learn it.

most kids like that are much intelligent than the early learners.

believe me.

even Albert Einstein failed the physics class, he's dyslexic and slow when he's young..