2 year old: alphabet/numbers

[Anonymous]

Just curious-
My DD will be two at the end of this month. Is it "normal" for a 2 year old to correctly identify all uppercase letters in the alphabet (in random order)? She also counts forward and backward 1-10 and forward 1-20. She knows all her colors and animals too. I haven't 'worked' on this with her at all...she's absorbed it through Signing Time DVDs (okay, so I didn't know about that whole, "no tv until after 2" rule)
Is this average for 2 year olds? I'm not sure, but it seems advanced to me (well, all moms think their kids are advanced!) and when I did some internet research, all I found was that kids needed to know those things by kindergarten. My usual place for information is from other moms in playgroup, but I would NEVER ask them this because it would sound so...I don't know...arrogant (!?).
Could you help me with an answer...and forgive me if I do sound like a bragging mom--or maybe I'm just normal too?

[Anonymous]

I would say that's pretty advanced! My son was 3 in June and he knows colors and animals, but he cannot identify many letters and knows only a few numbers by sight. He can count to ten.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that is advanced but take a deep breath - this does not necesssarily mean anything i.e. long term achievement. Sometimes kids make big strides and then take a "rest". Just watch her over the next year, keep doing what you are doing (nothing - being supportive - don't push) and find a good preschool for her. Montessori may be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Definitely advanced. I assume she is probably also pretty verbally advanced (speaks more like 3 or 4 than 2).
That would probably be a bigger indicator in my view than recognizing the letters or counting alone.

[Anonymous]

My daughter had all of that by 18 months but my son is almost 3 and still doesn't have all of it.

[Anonymous]

Not average but my 2 year old (when she just turned two) can do all of this as well (upper and lower)- it kind of surprised me to hear her count backwards when we were driving.. dd also knows all the animals.. almost more than me- yup- guilty as charged of dvds for a while- she also loves books and we have a lot of hand me downs so some are more advanced- the animal encyclopedia (for kids) is one of her favorites- your DD sounds well adjusted and absorbing a lot.. i know it's early so like pp said, i don't think of a mensa future- way too early- i just want her to have fun..

[Anonymous]

yeah, does sound advanced...my son could do some of that at age 2. he's three now and knows the upper and lowercase letters, is writing, knows numbers easily to 30 and with coaching a bit higher. starting to figure out adding and subtracting. i think he learned alot from videos too!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my DS at that age......now he is a second grader. He's bright but not a genius.....my second child is 3 and is not nearly as "advanced". I wouldn't say it means you have a child prodigy or anything - but a healthy, bright child. So, yes, it's "normal"......

[Anonymous]

My daugther did these things by age 2. I never really considered it advanced, but her preschool teachers did. She loved Sesame Street.

[Anonymous]

Our son did all that by that age as well, and he is still very advanced compared to his peers (now age six).

[Anonymous]

I'm sure your child is smart, but it sounds like she's learned these things because she has memorized them, as a result of watching the same DVD over and over again. She has a good memory, which is great.

[Anonymous]

My son was the same way at age 2 and he has sort of taken a "rest" now ate age 3. He is more interested in playing w/ other kids. His pre-school teacher said he was way ahead of the other 2 yr olds in his class. She said he was "good to go for kindergarten." I agree w/ a PP that kids may be advanced in one area and then take a break to work on other skills (social, etc). My DS still loves letters and now loves watching Super Why and Word World which your child might like too.

[Anonymous]

Surpringly, my DD knew her alphabet and numbers 1-10 by 2 years old as well (without my help) so I think it's normal to be at this advanced stage.

[Anonymous]

Nope, it's not normal at all. It's VERY advanced. Make sure you keep her cognitive stimulated (without stressing her out) and see where it takes you....how wonderful!

[Anonymous]

My DS knew all his upper case letter by 18 months. Number 1-10 by 2. He is now 27 months and knows all the sounds that letters make. I think kids are just capable of learning a lot more than we think possible at this age. I never really actively taught him these things but he learned them through board puzzles, TV, and songs.