https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:07:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490756 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:07:12 +0000 pinkcupcake 2490756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter's preschool class is a mix of 3.5 - 4.5 year olds and I've noticed they're all over the place in terms of writing, letters, reading, etc. Some kids seem to be way more interested in letters, others seem more into numbers, building, Etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490751 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:04:44 +0000 winniebee 2490751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: definitely not everything, i just meant that we do have those things...but maybe I don't encourage it enough. I'll cycle that stuff out so that he sees it more : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490727 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:50:31 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2490727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I'd point to interest then...since you have everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490337 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:25:23 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2490337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't worry, but I would only echo what others have said about incorporating letters into his environment.</p> <p>For example, my kids play with letters in the bath, we read a lot of alphabet books, we have a HUGE foam alphabet letter floor mat, do letter puzzles, letter actvity books, etc.</p> <p>ETA: just saw your response about already having letter rich environment. Sounds like you're doing everything right! I wouldn't worry--he's still so young! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490297 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:03:36 +0000 winniebee 2490297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: cool thanks! he loves to read and is really into long books and has a great attention span for that, so that's a good thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490284 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:57:44 +0000 honeybear 2490284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just keep reading out loud to him and don't sweat it. (Easier said than done in the age of the Internet, I know!) The important thing is that a young child is improving in terms of understanding texts of increasing complexity, because frankly, it's easy to teach a child the mechanics of reading. Developing the attention span, vocabulary, and ability to evaluate the context to figure out new words/concepts is the stuff you want to focus on, and that's the part that I think gets short-changed when the focus is on "academics" in preschool and Kindergarten. I know that the mechanical part is easy from experience--I've been a classroom teacher (EFL) and I'm teaching my son. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490180 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:09:36 +0000 gingerbebe 2490180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't worry! In Europe its pretty normal for kids not to learn how to read until 6 or 7 years old. </p> <p>FWIW, DH has 3 boy cousins who literally didn't even know their age or name until they were 5. And their mom has an MA in Early Childhood Development and runs a childcare center through pre-K. All the boys graduated high school, 2 went to or are in college, 2 of them were Eagle Scouts, and one is a firefighter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490160 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:02:20 +0000 winniebee 2490160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: I think you're probably right - he starts jr. k in the fall and I know there is more of a focus on literacy at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490158 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:01:53 +0000 winniebee 2490158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: that's a cool way to do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490157 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:01:43 +0000 winniebee 2490157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: I should go through it with him a little more. Sometimes he guesses wrong when I ask him. Ive just tried not to force it since I don't want him to feel pressured. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490154 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:01:08 +0000 winniebee 2490154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find it strange though, because we do have a letter rich environment already. Letter puzzles, lots of reading, letter magnets. I guess we need to do more? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490077 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 11:34:45 +0000 Freckles 2490077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the suggestions for a letter rich environment if you are worried. We did that when LO1 showed an interest in the alphabet - she really liked these puzzles:</p> <p><a href="http://www.hapetoys.com/ca/en/p/happy-puzzle/alphabet-puzzle/1599" rel="nofollow">http://www.hapetoys.com/ca/en/p/happy-puzzle/alphabet-puzzle/1599</a><br /> <a href="http://www.melissaanddoug.com/see-and-spell-learning-game" rel="nofollow">http://www.melissaanddoug.com/see-and-spell-learning-game</a><br /> We used the above puzzles and did a "what letter is that/next" game.</p> <p>She was also really into Endless Alphabet and Endless Reader. Dr Seuss' ABC book and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom were great books too.</p> <p>Are you sure he only knows a few letters? It could be that he knows them but just has no interest? I think you'll get a better idea after your conference. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2490068 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 11:31:00 +0000 looch 2490068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I taught my son his letters with a piece of chalk and our driveway. I made a game out of it, he told me the letter, I'd draw it, then we'd play hopscotch on it.</p> <p>He also wanted to make trains on the driveway, so I made the cars out of letters, again by drawing them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489993 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:57:43 +0000 lawbee11 2489993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: My LO was gifted this toy for her birthday and it's how she learned all her letters. We didn't force anything on her but I did play with this toy with her (and it's great cause it goes on the fridge so she plays with it while we make dinner). </p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Fridge-Phonics-Magnetic-Letter/dp/B00JLHVX36" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Fridge-Phonics-Magnetic-Letter/dp/B00JLHVX36</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489980 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:54:00 +0000 coopsmama 2489980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: It's completely different than any of those shows. I don't know how to explain it - but if you look at reviews on Amazon, you will see that lots of educators recommend it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489977 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:53:23 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2489977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I wouldn't worry by I would also create a letter rich environment. Alphabet poster, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, a puzzle, D also really like the VTech Apple toy that has tons of letters and games. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489969 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:51:19 +0000 winniebee 2489969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: he "reads" a lot and watches super why which focuses on reading. Has seen some Elmo letter DVDs but maybe will look into that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489966 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:50:00 +0000 winniebee 2489966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: I have no idea. At beginning of year conference, they said his interest level And knowledge was appropriate. We have a conference coming up next month and I'll bring it up then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489965 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:49:49 +0000 Mamaof2 2489965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: This was my DD - she just wasn't interested and still isn't really. She just turned 5 and from age 4-5 we had success with flashcards every night before bed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489962 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:48:30 +0000 coopsmama 2489962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would buy him the DVD Letter Factory by Leap Frog. It sounds crazy, but it's how my son easily learned all of his letters and the sounds they make just after he turned two. (We weren't trying to teach them - someone gave us the DVD and he wanted to watch it and one thing lead to another.) I've had so many friends tell me that's how their child learned them. It's a cute, fun story for preschoolers and I've found that my son took what he learned from the DVD and applied it to letters all over the house, store, books, etc. It really piqued his interest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489957 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:45:49 +0000 lawbee11 2489957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do most of the other kids in his class know their letters? Have you expressed your concerns (specifically about the letters) to his teachers? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489953 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:44:53 +0000 MamaG 2489953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>C is in a full day Pre-K program that she started right after turning 4 (August birthday). Now at 4.5 it's amazing to see what she's learned in the past year. I think you are likely to see him really take off in the 4-5 year.</p> <p>She's also more into reading/writing/drawing and not so much into building. She likes to do word searches, but instead of finding words, she'll pick a letter and find all of those letters, then she will move onto another letter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489950 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:43:10 +0000 stiletto_mom 2489950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>According to our local school curriculum expectations:</p> <p>By JK, students should know how to write their names. They dont need to know how to write words, but should recognize them orally, starting to recognize letters and even some words.</p> <p>In SK, they should be writing simple sight words (like "the", "it", "her", "they" etc). </p> <p>Grade 1 writing should be simple sentences.</p> <p>But usually teachers don't worry too much about development in letter, and writing until Grade 1. Some students are just stronger in some areas than others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489931 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:37:38 +0000 mediagirl 2489931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My K teacher friends have told me that the only thing they want the kids to know educationally is how to write their names. They will teach them their letters and numbers. </p> <p>My daughter knows some letters but not a lot. I think it's just an interest thing and at 4, it's not a huge deal. Our poor kids are getting pushed harder and harder these days and it sucks for us as parents because when we were kids, no way someone would expect their almost 4 year old to know all of their letters </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-4-yo-doesnt-know-many-letters#post-2489924 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:34:24 +0000 winniebee 2489924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>T will be 4 in a few months. He only recognizes a few letters. He can write his nickname, but that's it. He goes to preschool so I know he's exposed to it....but maybe he's just not interested? He's very verbal and knows all his numbers by recognition. His teachers say he's really smart, but I can't help but feel he should know his letters by now. </p> <p>Any thoughts/ experiences? </p>