Its been along time since I've posted anything,but visit often. I have a four 1/2 year old daughter.She goes to a pre-school that is suppose to be top ranked in our area.My problem is that she doesn't seem to be able to count to 10 or above. I first noticed it last summer when we spent 2 weeks together.I expressed my concerns to her mother and school. With the ABC's its the same problem. We seem to get to about F and she starts being coy and trying to change the subject of what we are doing.I only have her part time and spend alot of our weekends working on this. I have talked to her teachers again and they feel she is doing fine. I have brought the subject up to her mother, but she seems to be to self consumed with her boyfriend and their new life. What should we expect out of our kids at this age? I pay for her school and its is very expensive.I just cant help but wonder if isn't a glorified babysitter-with the name of preschool. Any idea what the norm is for this age and where they should be in development? She is very verbal and seems to be in line with all other aspects....looking for some thoughts

every kid is different and some are better at some things than others. i can only say what my kids can do... my 5 year old can count to 100 sometimes more and is reading easy books she is able to do some basic math like adding and subtracting. my 3 year old can count to about 30, and can read and spell everyone she knows name. but on the other hand my 3 year old is sensative and gets upset easily and my 5 year old still has bathroom issues. some kids are better at some things than others. i'll bet there are things your daughter can do that other kids can't yet. it sounds like you are doing the best you can. maybe if her mom doesn't have the time, you should try to have more time with her.

Noah, Every child will develope at different rates. My daughter was counting and saying ABC's by 4 but, some in her kindergarden class could not. The daughter of a girlfriend at work was doing these same things at 18 months. Yes, I said 18 months! I witnessed it. She could recognize letters out of sequence and say, not sing the ABC's.
I agree with you that she should be atleast making progress in these areas. She should accomplish these things as well as knowing her colors, address and phone numbers before starting kindergarden. Those are requirements in this school district. It also is a very big help if they can understand left to right reading.

You know what, I'd do some work with her at home... doesn't have to be sit down and WORK though, just count things you see during the time with her... whether it is french fries or trees, keep counting. Make note of letters and numbers you see.... play around in the dirt or good old markers and practice writing some.

Does she write letters at all?

It isn't completely alarming, when I taught Kindergarten the kids were expected to be able to count to 20 by the end of the year... most could go much further, but some didn't get through the teens. They needed to recognize all uppercase letters and most lowercase. In the past 10 years things have really turned.... (I last taught 6 or 7 yrs ago.) K curriculum has really become more involved in academics due to the rise in percentage of children that attend soe sort of preschool. It used to be K was for learning about school and peers, socialization, following rules and routines. It still is but along with that comes beginning reading and writing skills and more complex math skills. Nothing wild and crazy, but they do count by tens and learn some addition although I do not believe they are "responsible" for it. The thinking now is introduce it over and over again and then when the time is right you truly teach it and at that point they are responsible for the skills.

I don't think I'm helping, more babbling.

Anyway, I would keep a close eye on her progression.... I'd like to hear what her other abilities are. Is she a physical kid? I know with my twins I had one who always achieved the cognitive/academic skills first and one the motor skills. They always ended up evening out but to this day Delia will be the one who climbs the highest, does the first handstand, etc. Maia started reading and writing first..... within 6 months or so they will be even again and them they spurt in their own things. I think some kids are just more focused on the motor skills and aren't interested therefore don't practice/learn the academic skills... and vice versa.