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My child is just turned 5, is attending Kindergarten and not yet fluent in knowing and recognising his ABCs. Is this common? Should we be concerned? Is it just a matter of more practice?


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  • Every child is different and learns at their own pace. My daughter knew her ABC’s by 2 but my sons have taken a bit longer as they were always more interested in the physical world as opposed to the verbal way my daughter is. Just different for different children. They will get there.


  • One of my twins wasn’t great with ABC’s before starting school – they spend a lot of time on it in Prep, I wouldn’t be too concerned. I don’t think it was a focus in their kindergarten.


  • I wouldn’t worry too much and wouldn’t put pressure on in either. All kids are different and they’ll catch up once going to school


  • Just need to remember that every child is different.


  • Always make learning fun and the skills will develop.


  • Children learn at a different pace and if concerned discuss with education providers.


  • All children learn at a different rate and provided there are no physical/medical problems I wouldn’t worry about it at all.


  • It’s easier said than done but try not to worry. It will come to them. All kids are definitely and will learn things at a different pace. It’s so hard to ignore all the comments and conversations of other parents indicating what their kids can do but just let your child be themselves :)


  • No two children are the same which is as it should be. Your child will learn when they are ready. I used to put a poster of the ABC’s in the toilet so while they were sitting there, they could just look at it.


  • I think all kids learn in different ways and speeds. I wouldn’t be too worried at the moment.


  • All kids are different. My daughter is in Kindy and knows hers but she has been going to daycare since a young age. Perhaps try find ways to introduce abc more like sing a longs in the car and activity based play with games that focus on abc’s.


  • All kids vary but you have to put in an effort by reading to them and adding it into everyday events (pointing out letters) , singing ABC songs and pointing to them as you sing. . Lots of great books for little ones with Abc in them. Once he/she has started school they usually do , or catch on that year. If concerned I’d talk to the teacher.


  • I think each child learns differently and at different stages. Our 3 year old can recite his Abe’s completely and count to 20. Others his age can not and I don’t see a problem with that. If you are concerned then speak with his teacher. If they’ve not spoken with you yet then I assume they’re not concerned just yet.


  • Honestly, I would speak to his teacher and see if he/she is concerned. All kids are different and learn differently and his teacher will let you know if your son needs extra help or not.


  • I think each child is different and often its just what a child is exposed to.
    Since he was a toddler did you spend time with him singing the ABC’s and showing him the letters, etc.??
    My eldest had me all to herself until she was 3yrs old so she was very advanced and at age 3 was spelling long words such as Elephant. The only reason was that we would play junior scrabble almost every day and that taught her to spell. We ended up making our own scrabble boards with loads of different words to help her learn more.
    Child number 2 had a learning disability and at age 5 didnt know the ABC’s and she couldnt write or spell her own name, didnt know shapes or colours. She was slower then other kids but all of a sudden when she was around 10yrs of age her learning just took off and became average in her class which was awesome.


  • Repetition, repetition, repetition. I had my daughter doing hers between 2 and 3. I used to have her recite a bunch of things while walking our dogs. She learned my phone number and our address too.


  • My kids loved ReadingEggs at that age, I found it certainly helpful.


  • All kids have their own pace.
    Once they go to school they’ll catch up.
    Around age 3: Kids may recognize about half the letters in the alphabet and start to connect letters to their sounds. (Like s makes the /s/ sound.) Around age 4: Kids often know all the letters of the alphabet and their correct order. Around kindergarten: Most kids can match each letter to the sound it makes.


  • Kindergarten is so much about learning through play. At the age of 5 their emotional development is so important. They’ll learn the alphabet at school. If you want to give them a head start, there is no reason you can’t teach them. One idea is to get a can of cheap shaving cream, spray some on a table and get them finger painting letters. Maybe start with their name. Have fun with it!


  • They’ll learn at school… being kind and having fun and being able to focus are much more important.


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