ABC's or 123's

My boys are showing interest in both, but I wasn't sure if one was "easier" than the other or should come "first." I've seen people recommend the "they might be giants" cds, and I thought it might be fun to try one of the those (ABC's/123's).

TIA!

Alicia

 

I personally have always started with the numbers first. It is so much easier to find things to count, count the stairs as you go up, count the cheerios, count the blocks etc.

 

QUOTE(Faith00 @ Feb 7 2008, 01:37 PM) [snapback]611418[/snapback]
My boys are showing interest in both, but I wasn't sure if one was "easier" than the other or should come "first." I've seen people recommend the "they might be giants" cds, and I thought it might be fun to try one of the those (ABC's/123's).

TIA!

Alicia


WE love the TMBG 'Here Come the 123s"

Amy made a good point about the counting. My boys can count to 10 and recognize about 25% of the letters so far. I really haven't done anything formal to 'teach' them. We do have a set of foam numbers/letters for the bath and block letters in the play room. I just use everyday narration (like Amy's example) to point out letters/numbers.

As to which comes first, my boys picked up counting pretty quickly and without much 'teaching', just exposure. Can't say if that's just my guys, or if it's common of all kiddos.

 

We started with the 123's, but then got them Fridge Phonics for Christmas and they jumped into ABC's pretty well on their own with that.

They almost have counting to 10 down (our goal is by age 2), and they have about half their ABC's down.

 

I haven't really done anything formal to teach them. I guess I would say they "started" with the alphabet, but it just seemed to be what they were interested in first. We have alphabet and number fridge magnets, and that's helped with letter recognition. They still don't seem to recognize numbers, they call the numeral whatever letter it most resembles, (i.e., "8" is "B"). I don't know if they are behind in counting or just normal, but they don't really know how to count. It's just a sequence to them, they can recite up to like 15 or so, but it's meaningless. But with letters, they recognize all of them now, and are starting to put together what letter a word starts with,and can pick out their names.

We have the TMBG "Here Come the ABC's" (123's should be arriving shortly) and they really like it. I do too

 

I agree with Snittens, I think it depends on what your kids are more interested in. My kids love books and they were more interested in letters and now (at age 2) they know most of their letters, but they don't know any numbers yet and are just starting to get the concept of counting.

thea

 

numbers here

 

my twins are only 16 months and I have started counting to 3 with them. When I say one, they have learned to say two already! So it seems numbers are first.

 

Our twins knows how to say 1-2-3-4-5 and now they are learning how to say the letters. We have been repeating the 1-5 numbers since they were 9 mos old. The letters are harder for them but they are learning the vowels sounds. We have been using Leap Frog Letter Factory (DVD) and Fridge Letters too. Also they learned the words/sign from "Baby Signing Time Vol. 1 and 2". They both know about 15 words (but don't always repeat some of them).

Diana w/Rianna and Justin (16 mos)

 

We did both simultaneously I guess. They learned to count and say their ABCs at the same time. Then they learned to count with one to one correspondence (touching the object as they count it). Just recently they have learned to identify the letters and are starting on sounds (thanks to Leap Frog's Letter Factory). They are really really interested in letters right now. They are sucking it up like sponges and are even learning to write their names and other random letters. It is amazing how fast they have suddenly started picking this stuff up. My kids do not know any numbers by sight, except for 8--that is the number they look for on the clock that means bedtime!

Just follow their lead. If they are interested in letters, provide opportunities to explore letters. If they are interested in numbers, do the same. But honestly, when my kids were your boys' age, all they cared about were animals and sounds!!!

 

I started from when they were young by reading Alphabet books to them. I would read/sing the letters on the pages to them with the alphabet song. I personally find that you can do it simultaneously. I don't honestly recall ever "teaching" my girls the Alphabet or numbers and yet I'm very amazed that they know ALL their letters and numbers to 12. With numbers, they just seem to come up in all kinds of daily/life situations. Like pp said, counting the stairs when going up, counting out food for them, counting their blocks when they are building and that sort of thing. With Alphabet, letters are not usually isolated in the world for them to learn so I guess there is a bit more "teaching" in to that. I guess the teacher in me lead me towards often buying toys for them that dealt with either shapes, colors, alphabet, and numbers. They have puzzles that deal with all those areas, tons of books on all of them and lots and lots of fantastic, educational dvds that deal with those areas as well. I LOVE dvds. I think they are an excellent tool for teaching all kinds of things. Sometimes they are just better able to capture their audience than an individual person. Not on all things but they are an excellent resource and there is so much great stuff out there right now. Brainy Baby has an excellent dvd on numbers 1-20. My girls learned most of their shapes from watching Baby Einstein's shape dvd and Brainy Baby also has an excellent shape dvd. Also, during bathtime, we have those foam letters and numbers that stick to the side of the tub/wall. They love those and play with them and name them every bath time. The leap frog refridgerator magnetic letter toy is great too as someone mentioned. Honestly, I think dvds, books and toys that deal with those subjects is such a fantastic way to expose them to what you want them to learn.

I think all in all as another pp mentioned, follow their lead. Don't force it on them as that may turn them off of it. Rather, find daily life situations that present themselves as opportunities to teach.

 

I guess we started with the numbers first, just because it comes up more naturally. However, they did start learning the ABC song around the same time that they started counting.

Re: They Might Be Giants, I think that CD is actually better for slightly older kids. I have it (because it was highly recommended) but we hardly ever listen to it. My girls are too young to follow the words, and the music is somewhat grating (IMO). I think we'll like it a lot more when we can actually pay attention to it rather than having it as background music.

My kids LOVE "Learning with Letters" -- a Sesame Street DVD that is an introduction to the alphabet. I think that's mostly where they learned the ABC song from.

 

We started numbers first, but that was just us. We didn't get that far yet. They now love this ABC book I got for them, and are starting to like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, so we're learning more letters now.