Is this early?

[marispel]

My DS is 17 mo and can identify the entire alphabet and working on his numbers. I can show him a flash card and say "what letter is this" and he'll shout out the letter. I can also ask him to find the letter amongst cards and he'll look through them & find the cards.

What is crazy too is that we've been working with him on sign language for several months and just 2 days ago he FINALLY started signing. He can sign - milk, water, mama, flower, shoes, eat, all done, fish. It's crazy -its like he refused to do the signs..he would watch us, but never practice the sign and then BAM he is doing them.

Now when we go anywhere he'll see a letter & shout them out. I was watching Wheel of Fortune & he started saying the letters on the TV.

Is this early?

[funnygrace]

Not early for the signing, but early for letter and number recognition. However, I'm not sure many people do flash card numbers and letters with their 17 mo old. But as long as he enjoys it, then it seems like a fine activity (although others might disagree). It sounds like you are having fun with it.

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by funnygrace

However, I'm not sure many people do flash card numbers and letters with their 17 mo old. .

fwiw, i knew my alphabet at that age... but i couldnt imagine my ds sitting down long enough to learn that, he is so busy! but he does have a large vocabulary for his age.

[kdtmom2be]

It IS early, tough not totally unusual. My DD knew all her letters around that time too. She didn't learn to sing the alphabet song until a few weeks ago though!

[Dea]

awww people get their panties in such a bunch over what's early or not. Every child is different! If he's having fun, then it's great! My DD loves maps and can identify many countries, some might say it's too "early" but I could care less. It's fun for her!

[PhotoJournMama]

Originally Posted by Dea

awww people get their panties in such a bunch over what's early or not. Every child is different! If he's having fun, then it's great! My DD loves maps and can identify many countries, some might say it's too "early" but I could care less. It's fun for her!

If he is exposed to it at a young age, then he will learn it at a younger age. Some kids know letters and numbers (rote memorization comes to mind), or countries on a map, or every kind of construction truck known to man. Again, every child is different.

[claddaghmom]

It depends on HIM. Is it early for him? All babies are different.

DD is like that. She loves her little leapfrog alphabet toy.She likes to sort things by color and is very particular.

It's funny that you mention the sign language resistance. DD is the same way. She only signs a few things and seemed reluctant to do it. But she loves singing songs, the alphabet, numbers and reading. At this point I know it's only recognition. For example she saw PUPpet and said "pup! woof woof!"

[readytobedone]

it is early, but DD was like this too. she recognized the entire alphabet and all the numbers 0-9 before she was 2. i think it's mostly the kid. we didn't really emphasize it that much, but she was just interested and gravitated toward it.