My son is turning 5 this month and still doesn't know his letters or numbers.?

Question

He can count and say his abc's but doesn't recognize them. I have been doing books & flash cards and he just doesn't seem interested. Any suggestions.

Answer 1

Children develop at different paces and at different levels. This is not uncommon or abnormal.

You need to involve a few more modalities for drill to help him retain this information. Find his strengths, and how he learns best (auditory, visual, kinesthetic) and try to vary the different practices.

Make games, songs and hand motions. Point out numbers and pictures of things and ask about what letters are in the beginning of a word...

He is too young to be identified for a learning disability unless it is very servere so relax and just make it more interesting for him, give him a motivator (like a new toy or something he really wants) and let him develop at his own pace.

Answer 2

Thru the school district he will be attending kindergarten at you can get him tested.  They can help rule out any learning disabilities and put your mind at ease.  My mom is student coordinator for a huge school district and they are constantly testing in coming kids to see where exactly they are at.

Answer 3

My daughters are 4 (twins) and they could count and then it was like they forgot. I mean they still know how to but the higher they get they get the numbers confused and they can really only recognize 1-4 and they know their abc's but can't identify any of them. Try playing a game with him that involves knowing and identifying them. Make things interesting and only do it for like 10 min at a time cuz they get ditracted and bored easily

Answer 4

It sounds like he's saying them from memory...Which is a good start.

Being only 5, dont be worried, he will get it.

Unless he has an underlying problem that hasn't been recognised yet...Wait till he starts Kindergarden and if you don't see an improvement, you can ask that he be tested.

But give him a chance 1st.

Answer 5

Dont be overley concerned or worried....they all catch up sooner or late. I bet he is more advanced in other areas than other 5 yr olds. Parents compare the progress with each others children which is wrong. Your child sounds fine. Keep on what you are doing. ....you sound like u r doing everything right. Your influence will be the best. everyone is blessed with differerent talents likes and dislikes.....dont worry....go and enjoy his development.

Answer 6

Don't you worry.... Flash cards all ways does the trick. Walmart has some for under a dollar.

Work on upper-case first.  The key is to be very consistent and never show frustration. Make it fun!!!!!!!

Get flash cards with picture on front and letter on back. Pick a time of day to do this and stick to it!

For about a week or two just have your child repeat after you example: apple turn card over A is for apple.

Don't go to slow where your child will fall asleep from boredom or too fast were your child is not getting a "good" look at the letters.

After done this for about two week consistently when showing the flash cards have your child speak first when showing the picture and letter give 5 or 10 seconds front and back with each card. When time up give answer for picture and letter.

Don't worry when kids are young they learn fast!

good luck!!

Answer 7

he needs tutering by a professional teacher

Answer 8

Maybe you are transmitting your concerns about it into a drugde exercise with books and flash cards.  He should be going to kindergarten soon, and they can evaluate him.  BTW:  Get him out from in front of the TV-it rots his brain.

Answer 9

You might have to enroll him in a tutoring program.  I think they will be able to provide the best assistance will helping your child keep up with the other kids.  

If you don't want to do that, then you need to make letters and numbers become a part of his life.

You can do cards each with a number or letter on them.  Put them all over the house.  On the fridge, the TV, the couch, the wall, the cat, whatever.  Then say, "Go and get the "G".  It will be a cute treasure hunting game as you can hide little treats by each card's location.

Answer 10

Keep working with your son. Don't get overly concerned. He may just not be as "interested" as you.

Answer 11

When my kids were little I had them help me make a train, just like something that they have in school. Each little cabboose had a small and big letter of the alphabet and put it on the wall of the dining room. That was where they did their homework. Just them helping making it was fun and not only fun they want to look at something that they did and it is hanging on the wall, and make sure it has differant colors. Then you have them interested in something , there own project.......drill is on then....start asking them...do you remember this letter that letter...It worked for me.

Answer 12

Don't worry about it. Boys often take longer with reading than girls.

My son was 6 before he learnt to read, but he's recently been tested and his IQ is high and he's one of the brightest in the class. He has no learning problems at all.

Just keep encouraging him.

If he continues to have difficulties then you could have him tested for dyslexia in a couple of years, but 5 is too soon. People with dyslexia have problems recognising letters etc.

Boys are naturally lazy you know *lol*

Answer 13

turn it into a game...like there's a prize at the end of going through the flash cards...less power rangers...more sesame street

Answer 14

Well, I'm very sorry about  your situation. The babies' not being able to say can be contributed to many to reasons. I have heard of a case before: father speaks English to the kid while mother does in like French,and grandparents in a third kind of language. Maybe that can be too much and too difficult for the little baby. So my opinion is that baby should be spoken to in only one language when their brain are barely developed yet. I hope my idea may help,thanks.

Answer 15

Make a game out of it.  He may be stressed out by the books and flash cards, knowing that it is something he is supposed to achieve.  Fortunately, there are letters and numbers all over the place.  Years ago, when I was involved in a Big Sisters program, I had a 14-year old Little Sister who couldn't read.  We used billboards, toy boxes, movie credits, cash register receipts, and all kinds of things like that to practice on, and it wasn't such a serious challenge for her.  I knew I had won when she asked me if we could go into a bookstore!  I realize that a 5-year old isn't the same as a 14-year old, but there are letters and numbers in his life too.

Answer 16

He's only 5, don't worry too much about it.  Kids develop at different paces that have nothing to do with their intelligence.  Albert Einstein's a perfect example.  He was very slow to develop speech and he turned out alright.  I'm not saying your son is the next Einstein; but I am saying he's probably a normal kid and when he gets into kindergarten and everyone around him is learning to read, he will become more interested and learn, as well.

Answer 17

any good nursery schools nearby?  they are more experienced to teach such things to a child

Answer 18

Be patient with him....can you turn it into a game with cars and trucks or the foam letters and numbers for the bath have worked great for my daughter.  We play word games and pick a letter for everyone we know.  At school they write the letters and numbers on their hands...I am not sure about this but it does seem to have an impact.  All kids learn at different levels in different ways.  One other question would be...Have you had his eyes checked.  My nephew had an issue with his eyes that caused him to seem to not be paying attention.  Once he could see what he was looking at it made a huge difference in his attention span.  Good Luck.

Answer 19

look around for learning systems or techniques. not all children learn the same way, so find what does. maybe coloring books with letters and numbers, make it fun, interesting, i dont think he is a r****d, that first comment very rude

Answer 20

My daughter is 5 and son is 6. They both learning differently and at a different pace. For my son he has to learn by doing most of the time and my daughter totally opposite. I bought them a vtech 2 yrs ago and a leapfrog last year for xmas. Both have helped them a lot. I also have games where they have to count like Hi-Ho Cherry O, etc. I have tried putting letters on the wall (index cards, markers).

Don't get discouraged. They say my son is suppose to be counting to100 by now. He does for me but not for them..go figure.

Just be patient and find a fun way to teach him the basics. And don't forget to encourage him and praise him for getting it right...it gives them more confidence in learning.