Expert: Kelly Dyar - 3/18/2009

Question
I have a little boy that will be 3 years old next week.  He can name all sorts of animals that he sees but when it comes to colors he is not getting it at all.  When should a child be able to name primary colors, numbers and letters?

Answer
Cheri,

Thanks for the question.  

For your question, there is a wide range of when a child should be able to name colors, numbers, and letters.  Some children can name some of their colors, etc by the time they are three, but those children seem to be the exception rather than the rule.  Letter and number recognition isn't fully expected until somewhere around the 5th year, colors sooner than that.  But given your son's young age, I wouldn't worry if he doesn't know these things just yet.  

Colors will usually come first because they are much easier to learn.  Some ways that you can help him is to refer to color whenever you are describing something.  An example would be to say "Let's put on your blue socks" or "Do you see that red fire truck?"  Use color to refer to each and every thing that you can as you go about your day.  You can also do simple things with him to begin to match colors without really even having to name them.  One way to do this is to get several of the same paint chips from a hardware store and keep one intact and cut the other one into two or three pieces.  Line up the intact cards and give him the smaller pieces in a bag and ask him to sort the small pieces by color, matching them with their color.  As he does this you can refer to what each color is, and occasionally ask him what each color is.  At this age remember that his attention span is very short, so 10 minutes will likely be all that he will be interested.  Also keep it fun and like a game rather than an actual lesson.  When he is tired of the fun, then let him move on to something else.  You can also give him one paint chip and play "I spy" by saying "This is green.  I spy something green.  What do I spy?"  He will be learning his colors without you having to drill him on them.

Letters and numbers will come much later, but you can begin right now with numbers by referencing numbers just as you do colors.  While you drive you can say "I see three horses in that field.  One, two, three."  Each time you see something in small numbers- such as five or less- refer to the quantity and count out loud for him.  You can begin to introduce the alphabet by singing the alphabet song with him, and saying things like "Here is your applesauce.  Apple starts with A." As he gets older you can introduce letter recognition as well, but right now just begin to get him familiar with letter names rather than what they actually look like.

Much of the learning yoru son will do in his young life will happen without him even realizing that he is learning.  Just work thing like what I've mentioned in to his daily routine and he will pick up so much without you even realizing he is learning.  You may feel silly to begin with by saying these things, but it will quickly become second nature to you and you will be consistently teaching him without you thinking about it, and without him realizing he is learning.

I hope these suggestions help you!