What age should a child recognize numbers


How and when to teach your child numbers

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You can introduce the idea of numbers when your child is as young as 12 months by counting small sets of items — "How many buttons? One, two!" — and singing songs and rhymes that include counting, such as "One, two, buckle my shoe," "Five little pumpkins sitting on a fence," and so on.

When your child is 2 years old, they may learn to count up to 10 by rote, though they won't really understand the concept of counting objects yet, and may skip around in their counting: "One, two, five, six..."

Don't worry about her mistakes in counting — the fact that they're reciting numbers means they're learning the correct names. Next, they'll learn to point to objects and label them with numbers (even if they're not the correct ones).

Take advantage of everyday opportunities to count together. Setting the table is a good example. "One napkin for mommy, one napkin for daddy, one for you! One, two, three napkins!" At first your child may say there are three napkins no matter how many you've actually laid out, but at some point they'll start to understand that the word "three" stands for the number of napkins.

As they get a little older — between 3 and 4 — your child will start to understand the idea that adding more objects increases the number counted (whereas taking away objects decreases the amount). So when grandparents comes to visit, there are two more napkins on the table, bringing the count to five.

Another way to reinforce this concept is to count everyday objects in your child's environment — the number of apple slices on their plate, for example — and note what happens when objects are subtracted (eaten) or added. Between 3 and 4 years of age, they'll also be more adept at counting small sets of objects — "two oranges, four straws" and so on. Most children aren't able to identify numerals or write them, though, until they're 4 or 5.

Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

AAP. 2009. Cognitive development: Two-year-old. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/Cognitive-Development-Two-Year-Old.aspx [Accessed September 2022]

AAP. 2009. Cognitive development in preschool children. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/preschool/Pages/Cognitive-Development-In-Preschool-Children.aspx [Accessed September 2022]

AAP. 2009. Language development: 1 year olds. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/Language-Development-1-Year-Olds.aspx [Accessed September 2022]

AAP. 2009. Language development: 2 year olds. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/Language-Development-2-Year-Olds.aspx [Accessed September 2022]

Judith Hudson

Judith A. Hudson is an associate professor of psychology at Rutgers University.

Can Your Child Recognize Numbers?

Toddlers as young as 12 months old are able to recognize numbers. There are many ways you can work and play with your child to teach them numbers. When your toddler reaches the age of 3, they will even be able to start writing numbers.

The great thing about teaching your child numbers is that there is no best way to do it. There are games, books, and songs that put fun into education.

 

Here are a few awesome ways to teach number recognition to your child:

  • Say Numbers with Everyday Activities: “Let’s count how many apple slices we have for snack today!” or “We are putting away our blocks now. We put away 1 block, 2 blocks, 3 blocks, 4 blocks, and 5 blocks! Good job!” Anytime there is more than one of something, use that opportunity to practice number recognition.
  • Sing Number Songs: The rhythm and rhymes of songs help children remember patterns easier and in a fun and engaging way. You can sing a song that counts from 1 to 10 and a song that counts from 10 to 1. Make sure you use two different songs. One song can be Five Green and Speckled Frogs for counting from 5 (or 10) to 1. Another song can be The Ants Go Marching to count from 1 to 10.
  • Learn Numbers on the Abacus: The abacus is a great multisensory tool. The sooner a child learns the abacus the better off they will be. The first thing to learn on the abacus is the recognition of numbers 1 through 10. Once a child has mastered this, mathematics and arithmetic will be no trouble at all. They first learn counting numbers 1 to 4 on the abacus. Then they will learn to count numbers 5 through 9.
  • Read Number Books Together: Reading together is a great way to bond and foster curiosity in toddlers and young children. Reading a number book to your child will help them learn to recognize the different shapes of numbers and the orders of them.
  • Create Your Own Flash Cards or Number Book: Alternatively you can create your own number book or flash cards with your child. With a blank craft book or note cards, on one side write the numbers 1 through 10; you can get very creative with this. On the other side, have your child draw the number of any object they choose, like cars, dogs, or kites. Encourage your child to pick different objects for different numbers. So, on the page or flash card with the number 7, they can draw 7 balloons and on the page or flash card with 8, they can draw 8 ice cream cones. This will allow your child’s creativity to grow with their number recognition.
  • Encourage Number Recognition: Numbers are everywhere. They are in store signs and street signs, and on mailboxes and billboards. They are in books and television shows, and movies and video games. Everywhere you look there are numbers. When you see numbers around your child, ask them to recognize the number. This will allow them to recall the names of numbers without reciting them in order and to see numbers outside of their flash cards and number books. They will be excited now that they can recognize these numbers because of the fun games and songs they’ve been playing.

Teaching your toddler number recognition is important and can be an enjoyable experience for you and your child. However, there are a few things to be cautious of. First, you should always be patient with your child. Yes, it is important for them to learn and it is great to teach them early, but they will still make mistakes. It is okay when this happens because they are still learning. It will take time to understand numbers and especially number orders, so being patient is a must.

Next, make sure your toddler is recognizing and not reciting the numbers. This tends to happen when children only learn through song. They know and memorize the rhythm but will not know the numbers outside of the context of the song. For this reason, it is important to also teach recognition without songs such as on street signs, with flash cards, and especially with the abacus.

The last thing to keep in mind is not to overwhelm your child with too many numbers. When you are first starting, do not try to count numbers higher than 10. It is even okay to start with just numbers 1 through 5. If you start with numbers higher than 10, the concept may be too abstract for toddlers under the age of 4 to understand. Take your time with numbers and always make it fun!

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Topics: Better Parenting, Child Development, Number Writing, Math Tools, Parenting Tips

How to teach a child to write numbers?

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Do you want to teach your child to write numbers at home? We will show you in what ways you can teach a child to write numbers correctly and at what age he is ready to perceive digital literacy.

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When should I start teaching my child to write numbers?

The most important call for parents is that the child confidently counts to ten and correctly correlates the number with the number of pre-motes it indicates. More often, children of 5 years old already know how to count to 10, so you can safely teach them to write numbers.

The most optimal age to start teaching a child to write numbers is 4-5 years.

It makes no sense to teach a child to write numbers at the age of 2, since his hand is not yet ready for this, the muscles are weak, fine motor skills are poorly developed. It is much more efficient to do modeling, appliqué, all kinds of designers and other small things in order to develop thinking and coordination. The most important (and useful!) activity in early childhood is the development of memory. If a child has a good memory, all school subjects in the future will be given to him easily, visual memory will help to memorize and assimilate any material faster, including help in teaching mathematics. Therefore, feel free to teach your child to RECOGNIZE and name numbers, but take your time with the letter!

What is important for a child? To make the process interesting. Conduct classes only in a playful way, so the child can quickly remember how to write numbers.

Take math classes anywhere: in the yard, on your way to the store, or at your desk. The child, like you, should be comfortable.

Learning Numbers in Different Ways

First, explain to your child that there are numbers and show them what they look like. Then invite the child to decorate the number or mold it from improvised materials, the way he sees it. Correct me if the numbers don't look right at all. When the child understands what this or that number looks like, fix the material.

The associative method is the best way to teach a child. It is suitable both for those who want to teach a child to read and for those who want to teach a child to write numbers. Here you can show all your imagination.

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  • Make numbers from cardboard or colored paper and glue the head, legs, arms to them.
  • Make a figure in the form of a carrot or other vegetables and fruits. The child will know that one is a carrot and the number five is a tomato.
  • Learning with time and calendar. For example, show your child the clock face and say: at 8 am we wake up, at 1 pm you have lunch, at 5 pm we drink tea. Assign a child to be responsible for a day on the calendar. Let him underline today's number, and throughout the day you tell him interesting fictional stories about this number, day, and remind him of the number as often as possible.

A child will be able to learn how to write only after he orally masters all the information. Only then can you teach him to count and write numbers.

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There are special toys to help children learn how to write numbers. For example, such a tablet. It comes with a magnetic pen. On the board there are cells with balls along the contour of numbers from 0 to 9. Above each number there are hint arrows on how to correctly direct your hand when writing each number. The child leads the magnetic pen along the contour, small balls rise up and remain fixed. An empty cell becomes filled, and the number itself is “written”. This game tablet helps the child's hand to remember the shape of the numbers.

To start all over again, you need to run your finger over the number, the metal balls will hide inside. Feeling like bursting bubble wrap is useful and pleasant.

If something doesn't work out for a child, don't worry. This means that the baby is not yet ready to perceive new information. Prepare him well for the most important step in his life - writing.

The question arises: How much time should be devoted to writing numbers? It all depends on you. It can be intense five-minute games or a half-hour monotonous analysis of each number. What is more effective, you will understand immediately.

Teaching a child to write numbers in different ways

There are several ways to teach a child to write numbers.

  • It is useful to have a poster at home where arrows show how to write numbers correctly.

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  • Draw numbers in the air, on dad's back, on a misted window, on wet sand, in a bowl of semolina or flour, etc.

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Draw a number, and let the child repeat first, and then guess which number he saw.

  • Play with numbers, draw elements, turn numbers into animals and birds.

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  • Make crafts with numbers. It is much easier to first teach a child to draw and sculpt numbers, and then start writing.

  • Stencil the numbers out of cardboard so your child can trace them.
  • Buy a copybook of numbers in which the child can first circle the numbers that are drawn with a dotted line, and then write independently what he remembers.

  • Buy coloring pages that require you to trace numbers and then color them in.

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In order for the child to learn to perceive numbers from childhood, parents show cartoons for the little ones. For example, Tiny Love cartoons can be watched by children from one to five years old.

Why? The cartoon often mentions numbers, they are shown in the picture and well voiced. Watch these cartoons with your child. Stop the cartoon and ask what the baby saw and heard. Then you can take a notebook, write a few numbers there and let the child write one number several times.

These tasks will help you quickly learn how to write and do it beautifully. There are interesting coloring pages for sale. They contain images of animals, people, objects that the child must color, and then count how many objects are in this picture and enter the number. This method is well suited for those children who understand how numbers look, but do not know how to write them.

Work with your child every day, because only then you can see a good result. Give your child more attention and help him master the spelling of numbers.

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Development calendar: what a baby should be able to do at 2 years old

Each age stage has its own characteristics. It is the early age that is the time when the baby accumulates basic knowledge about the world and actively grows. Knowing the specifics of physical, intellectual and emotional development characteristic of a certain age, one can understand what skills are usually acquired by this moment, what to do with a baby and how to contribute to its development.

What a two-year-old should be able to do according to the Munich Diagnostic System

Parents who want to know the norms of psychomotor development of children under 3 years of age, it is useful to get acquainted with the Munich system of functional diagnostics of development. It was developed in 1997 and includes practical indicators of child development. According to this diagnostic, by the age of two, a child should be able to:

  • Walk on tiptoe without the help of an adult;
  • Stand on one leg for a short time;
  • Jump;
  • Climbing up and down stairs while holding on to the railing;
  • Open doors;
  • Unscrew and screw on caps;
  • String large beads on a string;
  • Build towers with cubes;
  • Throw and roll the ball;
  • Name animals;
  • Name parts of the body;
  • Sort by colour, size and shape;
  • Correlate the image in the picture with the real object;
  • Sing songs;
  • Speak in short sentences;
  • Play with peers;

A two-year-old child is already quite independent. The baby is already quite well developed coordination, he is constantly in motion. With the help of adults, a two-year-old can well serve himself: go to the potty, drink from a cup, eat with a spoon, wash and dry his hands, undress. Support the initiative of the baby and give him freedom - so he will quickly learn independence.

Physical development of a child at the age of 2

The age from one to three years is often called “walking childhood”, because it is at this time that the baby acquires and improves the main motor skill - he learns to walk. Let's look at the physical development of a 2-year-old child in more detail.

  • Walking . At this age, the child usually walks already quite confidently. A two-year-old can move both backwards and sideways, knows how to quickly stop and change direction. The step gradually becomes measured, the hands are lowered when walking. Also, while moving, the child can bend over, raise his arms, turn his head, hold something in his hands, etc.
  • Running. The running skill is just beginning to take shape at this age. The child loses balance due to insufficient formation of the vestibular apparatus and the center of gravity shifted upwards. Therefore, it is not surprising that a 2-year-old baby often falls and earns bruises.
  • Jumping. In order to learn to jump on two legs, the child must have developed coordination and muscular corset. Daily implementation of simple exercises will help to speed up this process.

At 2 years old, babies love everything that is connected with movement. Children of this age can run, jump, climb on the playground almost without stopping. Movement brings great benefits to children - they learn to control their body. At the same time, the kids get to master their hands faster (in particular, the hands), and the feet obey much more slowly.

  • Stair access. Stairs often become a favorite place for children on playgrounds. Kids 2 years old really like to overcome obstacles and conquer peaks.
  • Riding a scooter, balance bike, tricycle. By the age of 2, many parents buy their children a scooter or balance bike. These acquisitions not only cause great joy in the child, but also contribute to his physical development. Children sit down for a bicycle later, closer to 3 years, since it is not at all easy for a baby to pedal.

Educational classes in the children's center "Sozvezdie"

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The development of fine motor skills at 2 years

It is known that the improvement of fine motor skills is closely related to the intellectual and speech development of the baby. At the age of 2 years, children are especially interested in playing with small objects, shifting them, sorting, stringing beads. Most often, it is at this age that the leading hand of the child is determined, but it is useful to do all the exercises with both hands (in turn and at the same time). You can get ideas for developing your baby's fine motor skills in this video:

Development of perception in two-year-old children

If in the process of movement the baby explores the possibilities of his body, then with the help of perception (vision, hearing, smell, touch, taste) the child learns the world around him.

  • Vision . It is with the help of vision that children, like adults, receive most of the information about the world. Children at the age of 2 already have a good command of visual coordination and are able to follow a moving object with their eyes, distinguish between horizontal and vertical lines. However, they still cannot perceive the whole and the parts at the same time, therefore, if the baby is in the crowd, it will be difficult for him to quickly find his adult.

  • Rumor . It is worth paying attention to the auditory perception of the child, since with hearing problems, the baby is likely to experience difficulties in speech development. At 2 years old, a child should be able to distinguish between intonation well and understand simple requests.
  • Taste and smell . In our culture, for some reason, almost no attention is paid to the role of these analyzers in the exploration of the world by a baby. At the same time, in France, the development of taste buds is regarded as an important step in the psycho-emotional development of a child.
  • Touch . Tactile contact with significant adults is very important for the mental and physical health of the baby. It is thanks to him that children develop trust in the world, feelings of security and love. In early childhood, tactile perception of objects is on a par with visual perception. Toddlers get ideas about such concepts as cold / hot, hard / soft, smooth / rough precisely through tactile sensitivity.

For the development of a child of 2 years old, it is very important that the baby receives as many impressions as possible. At the same time, it is desirable that information be obtained from different sources. In the children's center "Constellation" for the harmonious development of children, a Montessori environment has been organized, from which each child can learn exactly what he needs at the moment.

Speech development at 2 years old

What speech skills should a 2 year old child have? What is the peculiarity of the speech development of babies at this age?

  • Speaks in simple sentences;
  • Basically, calls nouns;
  • Uses verbs in speech infrequently;
  • Makes requests and voices his needs (I want, give, please, thank you, etc.)
  • Has a large passive dictionary;
  • Speech is emotionally colored, accompanied by gestures and facial expressions;
  • Can pronounce about 200 words;
  • Asks questions (what? where? when?).

By the age of 2, the child's speech acquires the function of communication. In addition, kids often voice any of their actions. The more time you spend with your child and talk to him, the more intensively his speech will develop.

Developmental classes at the children's center "Sozvezdie"

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Personal hygiene skills

A two-year-old child is already quite independent, and many parents strive to instill in their child self-care and personal hygiene skills. If you approach this issue wisely, then at 2 years old the child will be able to independently:

  • Wash;
  • Wash hands;
  • Brush your teeth;
  • Go potty.

Potty training is a problem for many. Someone is trying to forcibly put a child on a potty, while someone does not attach much importance to this skill. Scientists have found that children themselves begin to strive to go to the potty at the age of 1. 5 - 2.5 years. Until this time, babies are just learning to control their intestines and bladder. Therefore, by no means should you scold the child for “wet deeds”. If the baby himself wants to go to the pot, be sure to encourage this, praise any attempt by the child to control his body and be patient. Someone learns to potty quickly, and someone at 2 years old constantly pisses in his pants, but this is not a deviation from the norm. Be patient, and your baby will definitely learn to go to the potty.

Conclusions

So, a two-year-old child is already an independent person with his own character. At this age, the baby acquires many new self-service skills, his physical, intellectual, speech, emotional development improves. The main achievement in the motor sphere is confident walking. Now the child can perceive the world even more fully and vividly.

Conclusion

2 years is the age when the baby is constantly striving to learn something new, everything fascinates him.


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