https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 05:33:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057448 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 12:23:26 +0000 regberadaisy 2057448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tricycle: @honeybear: thanks! Super helpful tips. </p> <p>I promise I'm not planning on getting all tiger mom on her. ;) </p> <p>Just looking to see what worked for others. DH and I both think she's fully capable of it but we just haven't done zilch about it. She has shown interest in alphabets and we didn't run with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057403 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:56:44 +0000 .twist. 2057403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: LOVE storybots! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057398 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:54:42 +0000 pinkcupcake 2057398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started slowly teaching her capital letters around 18 months. We have a large Pororo floor mat with the alphabet written on it. We would show her A and then ask her to point to it. It was a fun game for her. By age 2, she could identify every letter. I think she just naturally gravitated towards letters- we have a bunch of letter toys and puzzles (Melissa and doug wooden puzzle, the leap frog letter factory, baby Einstein board books that go through each letter in its own little book). She also really loved super why. I wasn't sure how to approach lower case and capitals, but she somehow naturally learned to distinguish them and calls them big A, baby A. I think that's from the Dr Seuss ABC book. </p> <p>She's almost 3 now and I let her lead me in the direction she's interested. She seems interested in learning sounds and writing, so I show her when she asks but don't push it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057325 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:05:35 +0000 honeybear 2057325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My approach has been close to what Mrs. Cowboy wrote about here: <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2012/07/19/cultivating-young-readers-genuine-opportunities-to-read-and-write/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2012/07/19/cultivating-young-readers-genuine-opportunities-to-read-and-write/</a></p> <p>I wouldn't worry about comparing what your child knows to what other children know at this point. At your daughter's age, I focused on reading aloud a lot and from a wide variety of books on the theory that a big vocabulary would serve LO better in the long run (because you have to know the meaning of the word you're sounding out to really make sense of a text and you learn meaning through context...therefore you need a ton of context). I continue to do basic text awareness by having LO show me where I should start reading on the page and showing him things like punctuation in the text. We slowly (emphasis on slowly) added in letter sounds and names starting around age 3. We've recently started letter formation with an actual pencil at age 4. We mostly did finger writing in sand/salt until this point. </p> <p>I don't think you need to make sure a child has mastered a letter or number before introducing the next one. LO often claimed to "not know" letters that he'd previously demonstrated that he did know, so if I'd insisted on perfect mastery before moving on, we wouldn't have gotten very far. </p> <p>As for materials, we mostly write things down and use some basic manipulatives. I like the magnetic numbers and letters (probably better than LO!), and for objects to count, anything that you have multiples of that are similar--blocks, etc.--is fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057310 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 10:55:58 +0000 mrbee 2057310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Mrs. Cowgirl's name song post was super helpful for our kids!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057288 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 10:44:42 +0000 Mrs. Tricycle 2057288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've spent a ton of time pinning alphabet activities and strategies for toddlers. Suggestions I've seen:</p> <p>* Start with the letters in your child's name<br /> * Do a few letters each week -- don't spend a whole week on the same letters<br /> * You don't need to go in order with letters, but when you choose a group to teach, pick ones that don't look alike (like b and d would be bad to teach the same week)<br /> * Teach both the letter name and the letter sound</p> <p>DS is 26 months and knows four or five letters, and a few of their sounds. He can mostly count to ten on his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057264 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 10:35:13 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2057264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Endless is super popular in our house. We work on counting with steps and then pointing them out in books, TV, wherever.<br /> She's started telling me time recently by calling out the numbers on my alarm clock. They're often in the wrong order (fourteen! eight! = 8:14) but not bad for 24 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057254 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 10:32:32 +0000 MrsMccarthy 2057254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son learned from Sesame Street and his alphabet books. He is mostly self taught as well. I think some kids just gravitate towards letters and numbers. We also had a fun free alphabet app that he loved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057232 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 10:24:50 +0000 aegie 2057232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 2.5 and she knows all of her alphabets and numbers from 1-10. BUT she only recognizes upper case letters and some lower case letters. the p,b,q, d's throws her off too. And l and I's are also tricky for her. But she definitely knows her name by sight. Whenever we're waiting for ANYTHING, I'll ask her to read the letters to me and we'll play the I spy game with letters. Plus, I now only give her gummy alphabets as treats. And she has to tell me what letter it is before she eats it! HAHA </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2057148 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 09:47:26 +0000 Freckles 2057148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: she had the m&amp;d magnets. They stuck to our old fridge pretty well. I can't remember how she started recognizing numbers. I think it was through number concept books. Can she count? It was easy for her to recognize numbers because she could count. And of course, endless numbers is great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056961 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 07:08:13 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2056961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056856 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:37:15 +0000 lemondrop 2056856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Super Why is a big help, add is the spelling and wiped match apps mentioned above (endless alphabet, also letter school) but the biggest thing that helped was a Melissa &amp; Doug alphabet puzzle and some random $1 Target alphabet flash cards. </p> <p>Every kid has their strengths- mine is obsessed with alphabet and numbers, but he's not so great at conversation. We have to work pretty hard at that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056823 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 23:37:58 +0000 erinpye 2056823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: no, like $7 or so, but I think it's worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056816 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 23:27:54 +0000 ALV91711 2056816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is obsessed with singing abc's. He can get to F and then mumbles and might say a couple more letters. He has a wooden alphabet puzzle he loves and knows W. He calls a couple other letters by words. Eg P he calls papa. </p> <p>He is 22 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056808 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 23:20:16 +0000 HLK208 2056808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: E is the same! She recognizes O and S. She can sing her ABC's but sometimes needs help. I'm just trying to consistently work with her every day. With B, I wrote out all the letters on his easel and we would go through them. He could recognize mostly every letter by 3.5-4. Preschool helped a lot :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056788 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:53:10 +0000 sunny 2056788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO learned her ABCs by playing with an alphabet puzzle. Highly recommend those! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056787 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:50:49 +0000 regberadaisy 2056787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dang, your kids are ABC smarty pants! DD can sing ABCs and count to 20. But can only recognize O and one other letter. I don't think she can recognize any numbers. I'm also lazy and haven't worked on it at all. The only ABC book we have is chicka chicka boom boom and it's not her fave. Lol</p> <p>@Freckles: which fridge magnet do you have? I have the leap frog magnets but they don't stick to the fridge? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056780 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:44:51 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2056780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: I totally meant to add to the end of that/ask...is it free? lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056774 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:41:13 +0000 Freckles 2056774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also recommend the endless apps and fridge magnets. For lowercase, the m&amp;d puzzles are great too. The Hape alphabet puzzles were terrific. If M likes to read, I think she'll pick up on the letters really quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056772 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:38:35 +0000 erinpye 2056772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: definitely! I think they make a numbers one too, and then Endless Reader! Great, fun, educational apps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056766 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:29:56 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2056766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: we shoold check out this app! At 17 months my LO recognizes letters and "sings" her ABC's (she cant/doesn't say all the letters but she tries) and can count a little too (if you start and leave off she can fill in a number or two). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056763 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:27:09 +0000 Smurfette 2056763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She is starting to now at 23 months. Day care is working on them recognizing their names and she can spell it with some help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056744 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:09:43 +0000 erinpye 2056744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never taught DD1, but she knew them all by 18 months. She's always had a letter and number fascination. I'm sure Endless Alphabet helped- it's a great app! It definitely helped her start reading, since it says the letter sounds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056740 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:03:38 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2056740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooh also check out storybots. Super fun videos! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056738 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:02:48 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2056738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do it pretty organically with lots of books, drawing numbers and letters, tub numbers and letters, a cool poster for his room etc. So far he can identify 1-10 most of they time, but he hasn't really gotten into letters. (24mo). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056714 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 21:45:04 +0000 Anagram 2056714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I just started letters with my 18 month old a couple weeks ago--by "started" I just mean started pointing them out and pronouncing and so far she can point out A-G and O and M consistently if I ask her, like "where is the O" she will find it on a page with all the letters.</p> <p>She only verbalizes them if I say them first though. And we are working on the abc song, but she starts singing gibberish after just a, b, and c because the pace is fast.</p> <p>I think she'll know them all by 2 though.</p> <p>She can also draw an O (or a ball, whichever I ask) although it's a pretty flat circle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056711 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 21:44:33 +0000 dolphin 2056711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 25 months and loves the ABCs! She always wants to sing the ABC song and asks to watch Elmo ABC songs on YouTube. We also have lots of alphabet books and magnets. She likes Endless Alphabet too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056696 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 21:37:45 +0000 HappyBaker 2056696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is obsessed with the show "Super Why". I think it's on PBS but it's free on Netflix. Since she's been on this kick she's definitely picked up more letters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056592 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:36:17 +0000 regberadaisy 2056592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: @fancyfunction: that's awesome! Smart kids. :) </p> <p>@mrsjazz: bath toys are a great idea! There's one on Amazon I've been eyeing for a while! </p> <p>@lovehoneybee: thanks I'll check that app out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/recognizing-abcs-and-123s#post-2056582 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:28:49 +0000 lovehoneybee 2056582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Evan learned his ABCs pretty early (18isj months?) He was (is) obsessed with letters, stemming from Dr Suess's ABCs, and encouraged it with fridge magnets and foam bath letters. </p> <p>We started by repeatedly pointing to letters (or responding to his point) and telling him their name. Eventually he just started telling us what it was. </p> <p>We started numbers when he started to walk up and down stairs holding our hands. We'd count each step as we went up and down, because it was his favorite thing ever for a while. He can currently count to 20, but 15-20 is still kinda muddy. </p> <p>And Endless Alphabet/Reader is awesome. Probably our most used app. </p>