hsingscrapper Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I'm not going to claim my baby is a genius. What would you think if your nearly 2yo (August 17th) could tell you what most of the letters of the alphabet were when you point to them or write them on the white board? Is this indicative of potential genius or just a little guy paying attention to Sesame Street and Super Why?? How would you proceed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 my oldest could do it just before 2 yrs... the others at 3 or 4. I wouldnt do anything different... Some might try to teach them to read at 3, but I would just let them be a toddler for as llong as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My dd knew all of her letters at two. It's pretty common in homes with lots of books and stimulating activities. They pick up what they're exposed to. We have a few world maps, and when dd was two and a half she could tell you the name/location of forty different countries. I counted. :D As for how to proceed, just read him lots of books and keep on doing what you're doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alenee Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I'd say keep doing whatever you're doing and enjoy it! I have a dd who in all other aspects is highly intelligent...she can fix just about anything, but she could not read her letters until she was 6yo no matter how hard I worked with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy_of_4 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Ds knew all of his lettters and sounds by 20 months. He loves books! Just keep doing what you are doing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Ds knew all of his lettters and sounds by 20 months. He loves books! Just keep doing what you are doing! :iagree:Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureMoms Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I'm not going to claim my baby is a genius. What would you think if your nearly 2yo (August 17th) could tell you what most of the letters of the alphabet were when you point to them or write them on the white board? Is this indicative of potential genius or just a little guy paying attention to Sesame Street and Super Why?? How would you proceed? DD could do it by about then. She's now 4.25 and knows all the letter sounds, and can sound out CVC words fairly well, but can't do any reading beyond that, so I'd say she's bright, but still in the pretty normal range. If she hadn't insisted I probably would not have tried to teach her to read when I did (at 3.5), but rather waited until 4 or later. So, I'd just continue on, if he knows all the letter names, I'd start casually talking about the letter sounds ("B says buh" just like "cat says meow") but I wouldnt' try formal reading lessons for awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Changed Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My middle dd knew all her letters and several sounds at 24 months. All it took was watching Leap Frog Letter Factory for a couple weeks. :tongue_smilie: I continued to work with her on letter sounds and numbers, but she quickly lost interest so I just let it go. Now that big sis has started school she seems interested again. I think I'm going to start a pre-school "program" with her for a few minutes a day. I would just keep it fun and definitely work with him on the next steps (whatever those are) as long as she shows interest. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love_to_Read Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 If he really takes off with it, you might want to read about hyperlexia, but he's probably just on the early end of normal. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Dd is 26 months and knows a lot of the letter sounds because of watching the letter factory. She is also trying to write some of them. Maybe you could do that as your next step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsingscrapper Posted August 14, 2012 Author Share Posted August 14, 2012 Hyperlexia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustybug Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My youngest just turned 2 last month and she's known the letters and their sounds, shapes (including hexagons, which she calls, "Agons"), numbers 1-10, and a number of colors. I think she has just absorbed so much listening in on the older two and their lessons and we love some LeapFrog Letter Factory around here. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I had one like that, and I don't think it led to reading any faster. Certainly not writing. I didn't push. I thought it was more important to enjoy good books and stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My eldest could recognize his letters before two mostly by observation. He didn't learn to read until he was nearly six. He's still observant and has a good memory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Mine knew their letters very young too, especially the younger two (by age 2). My 9yo showed every promise of a precocious reader before age 5, but turned out to have some serious struggles. My 7yo basically taught herself to read - was reading Bob Books at 3yo, Little House in the Big Woods at 5yo and anything on our shelves at age 7yo. My 6yo was younger than dd when he learned the letter sounds, but his reading is very much "on track" for normal. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have an early reader on your hands, but knowing the letter sounds certainly doesn't hamper the process either. kwim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My son knew his letters and would pull the magnetic alphabet off the refrigerator and lean the corresponding first letter of the train's name against his Thomas the Tank Engine trains at age 2. That blew me away :D. Ten years later, I still have a *very* bright boy. He has processing LDs, like dyslexia, and we spend a LOT of time finding alternative ways for him to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrub Jay Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My dd knew her letters before 2 and now reads at a high school level (turning 7 soon). I didn't do anything special except read a lot to her. She naturally taught herself how to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Both of mine could do that. I waited for ODS to tell me he wanted to read and he went from learning letter sounds to reading novels in less than a year from 4 to 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 DS is 3 (this past May) and is working on learning to read because he is doing so well with it and loving it. I think he just wants to be one of the big kids, honestly AND it seems learning new school things is the thing he's good at. He didn't walk until he was 16 months, didn't say more than 2 words (literally) until he was 18 months, so there had to be something that he was amazing at and apparently words/reading/letters is his thing! :) I'd keep doing whatever you're doing and enjoy it! Hopefully your DC will keep with it and continue to enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Hm, I don't know. My ds did *not* know letter names at that age, but he was reading fluently (story books like Henry and Mudge with inflection and even voices) at three. ... My dd knew her letters sooner, but didn't catch up with him in reading until she was five. So, while I think a 2yo who recognizes individual letters as each representing something different and meaningful is certainly ahead of the game, I don't think it will necessarily translate into earlier reading. As far as intelligence, I'm unwilling to claim that ds is smarter than dd, but now, many years later, he's still the more academic of the two and he generally gets higher test scores (both achievement and ability-based). Her intelligence tends to show up in other ways, like a quick and biting wit. Both are excellent, thoughtful readers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 One of mine knew all the letters by 2. My dn was 4. Both are doing well in college. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My daughter could as well, and now my niece can, who isn't yet 2. My son on the other hand wasn't able to do that until he was 5, and he still tested as gifted...so I wouldn't think much of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My ds now 12 was reading sentences by his second birthday. He was reading 5th grade level by four. I just encouraged reading and learning. He picked up the rest. Here's what I wish I could have done differently: I wish I would have still stressed phonics. He's a sight reader and always will be. The upside is that once he sees a word and hears its pronunciation, he's got it. But I wish he could sound out words. I also wish I hadn't pushed so hard when he was younger. I figured if he was reading at a 5th grade level when he was 4 that meant that he should be doing all sorts of 5th grade stuff. He was still a little boy and I pushed too hard. I continually work to rebuild what I damaged. So, he's 12 now. He's 3 years ahead in math. He writes brilliantly after a very slow start. He's witty and funny. I'm glad his intelligence isn't as showy as it once was. It's easier to make friends. And it's less embarassing at playgrounds. He used to read all the curse words on the slides and stuff. Ugh! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganCupcake Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My DD knew all her letters a month or two before she turned 2. She isn't reading yet at almost 4, though she knows the letter sounds and can write a few letters, too. She wants to learn to read because she loves books, but I can tell she's not ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYoungerMrsWarde Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 jenbrdsly's (member on here) Teaching My Baby to Read blog is great and has ideas exactly for that age range/early readers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett_ashley Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Hm, I don't know. My ds did *not* know letter names at that age, but he was reading fluently (story books like Henry and Mudge with inflection and even voices) at three. ... My dd knew her letters sooner, but didn't catch up with him in reading until she was five. So, while I think a 2yo who recognizes individual letters as each representing something different and meaningful is certainly ahead of the game, I don't think it will necessarily translate into earlier reading. :iagree: Knowing the "names" of letters is really unimportant to reading. My mom is an early childhood development specialist and makes the analogy of learning all the names of the tools in a woodworking shop doesn't get you any closer to woodworking. You have to understand what the tools do and how they work. I certainly wouldn't discourage your toddler if s/he enjoys it though. Keep reading aloud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My youngest just turned 2 last month and she's known the letters and their sounds, shapes (including hexagons, which she calls, "Agons"), numbers 1-10, and a number of colors. I think she has just absorbed so much listening in on the older two and their lessons and we love some LeapFrog Letter Factory around here. :) My niece also just turned two and can do the same things your youngest does. She can also count backward from 10 to 1 and has learned a good bit of sign language (she is not hearing impaired). My SIL works with her some and she also watches educational television. Of course, we all think she's a genius! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Embassy Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Yay!! How exciting :) Maybe do some LeapFrog DVDs in the next year or two. I'd start gentle instruction when the child is starting to read 2 and 3 letter words (if pre-Kindergarten age). But then every child is different and every family situation is different as well. I'm just telling you what I did:tongue_smilie: It may or may not be the best thing for your child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kertie Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Well...I wouldn't think much of them recognizing the letters at 2. Some do, some don't. I'd keep reading to them, casually mention sounds of letters via book or puzzle, and then see what they did with that information. And if they do something with it, start gathering books now:). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 What would you think if your nearly 2yo (August 17th) could tell you what most of the letters of the alphabet were when you point to them or write them on the white board? Kiddo started reading the letters and numbers of license plates of (only) Jeeps at two. I remember him toddling about the parking lot saying the names of cars: Ford, Jeep, Mericawrie (Mercury), and then toddling up to a group of young men yakking in a Jeep convertible and saying: KZB-5.1.2. He was telling them the letters and digits on the plate. Just as he turned three he was easily reading the cat, fat, sat words I had on the fridge with letter magnets. I started Letter Factor and thought I'd have an early reader. Wrong. He got his phonics and his copywork and his SWR going, but then had trouble stringing more than 3 letters together for YEARS. I has a developmental vision person eval him: no dylexia and no vision problems. To this day he is a bit behind in reading unless it strikes his fancy: then he reads above grade level, because he is putting effort into it, I think. I would proceed as planned. Adjust your step day by day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsrevmeg Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My oldest two were like that. My middle son actually taught himself to read at 2.5-3 using a leapfrog phonics bus toy. I say just keep plucking along and see what happens. You don't really have to push reading on one that young, but you also shouldn't discourage it by any means. ( I actually had people tell me that I should not encourage Benjamin and Nathaniel in reading because, "You don't want your kid to already know too much when school starts.":001_huh:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 It's not that uncommon really. All 3 of my kids (who are not genetically related) could do letters and letter sounds at that age. Keep doing what you are doing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Without reading any of the other responses, I'd say it's a combo of a really smart little baby, and probable exposure to lots of language/reading. My older son brought me his stacking cups at 17 mos. and was reading the numbers and letters printed on the bottom of them. I freaked out and started giving him other unfamiliar things, and he could name all the letters and numbers. He did start reading very early, and was reading about 4-5 grade level in kindergarten, but now that he's 4th grade age, he's starting to level off some. He still has an astonishingly large vocabulary, and almost never makes a spelling mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 It's not that uncommon really. All 3 of my kids (who are not genetically related) could do letters and letter sounds at that age. Keep doing what you are doing! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsfamily Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I'm not going to claim my baby is a genius. What would you think if your nearly 2yo (August 17th) could tell you what most of the letters of the alphabet were when you point to them or write them on the white board? Is this indicative of potential genius or just a little guy paying attention to Sesame Street and Super Why?? How would you proceed? Ds6 was like this. It led to him teaching himself to read before he was 3. I didn't do anything differently with him and still don't. Once he got to Kindy, I placed him into a higher reader package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathGirl Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My youngest knew all his letters and sounds by 18 months. Now he is 2.5 and he has forgotten a few of them because he doesn't really use them. He hasn't gotten to the point where he understands what they are for and how to blend them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I'm not going to claim my baby is a genius. What would you think if your nearly 2yo (August 17th) could tell you what most of the letters of the alphabet were when you point to them or write them on the white board? Is this indicative of potential genius or just a little guy paying attention to Sesame Street and Super Why?? How would you proceed? My eldest dd could. She could read independently at 3. She is very smart, but it is within the range of normal. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Great first steps!!!! The daycare/preschool we used to go to taught letters and sounds in the 2-3yo classroom. My older kids knew them around their 2nd birthday. Just keep in mind that whild identifying letters and sounds are the first steps to reading, that they may not beging reading for a while. Some kids go right from one to the other, and I know some kids can read basic books at 3yo, but some still need to wait a few years for the skill of blending letters. My older kids were reading at 4yo....dd5 isn't there yet, even though she knew all of her letter sounds (and alternates sounds) completely and easily by 3yo. Every kid is different. Sounds like you little one is doing great! Keep up the reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aoife Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 DS1 taught himself all the letters and their sounds by the time he was 2 I credit letter factory and his love of workbooks. but knowing letter sounds and such doesn't mean reading early. It will happen when it is supposed to and it takes some kids longer to get to that next developmental stage of blending. DS1 was able to blend around 4. We take breaks as necessary to accommodate him cause the last thing I want to do is burn him out. At 5.5 he is now fully ready to plow forward and knows the majority of rules and such and it breezing through now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 All of my kids were doing that at age 2 and I think it's pretty normal. You are obviously reading and talking to your child, so just keep doing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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