What should my 2 1/2 yr old know?

well im not sure about the states, but my son is 2 1/2 as well and we live in west virginia.

He can count to 20 in English and identify all written numbers 1-10.

He can count to 14 in spanish. (must have gotten this from Dora lol)

He knows all of his shapes.

He knows the entire ABC song and is just now learning to recognize the different letters when written.

Ofcourse he sings songs and does the hand motions.....hmmmm..... this is an interesting question and i am excited to see what some of the other little ones are doing!

* i do not send my son to a preschool...this is just what he has picked up on his own, watching nick jr, and playtime with me and his father.

First of all, pre-k doesn't cost $150/week - I live in california too and that's ridiculously high. My grandson went to preschool when he was 3 twice a week and it cost 89/month. He learned his letters and numbers, how to color, play with children his own age (he's an only child) and how to function in a structured environment (outside of home, obviously). I suggest you shop around for a more affordable preschool & once your son is potty trained he can go.

Well if you are going to home school your child, you must follow the basics.

Step 1: Use an Happy, Playful and Engaging voice to get the child to get involved. It is proven in study that a person who speaks in a dull voice, gets no attention from their students.

Basic Pre-K Math. To teach your child the methods on Adding and Subtracting, use something that he plays with that would capture his attention, and demonstrate both methods and try to engage him to do the examples himself OR use food, food is a tasty and fun way to get your toddler involved in Math.

Basic Pre-K Spelling: You must first always teach your child how to spell his first and last name, and how to pronounce every letter. After he masters that, then teach him small words he would say on a regular basis (ex. Dog, Food, Cat, Play, Bee, Sun, Moon, Star, etc) small words are the best words for his age. As he grows to master these words, then challenge him with bigger words.

(Note-Always first write the word, then allow him to copy the words you have written)

Basic Pre-K Emotions: Your child must know the difference of different emotions. You could either print out or draw the emotions on a piece of paper and have your child describe the emotion and act it out. (Ex. Happy Face, Sad Face, Mad Face, Surprise Face, Sleepy Face, etc) This is a good way to play with your child and unlock their creative side and learn in the process. (Note- It helps to come up with good stories behind the emotion faces for the child to better understand)

Basic Pre-K Art: Allow your child's creativity to explore. Give him some crayons and a couple pieces of paper and allow him to draw the world in his little hands. Show him the different colors of the crayon. Spelling comes into play around this time, to show him how to spell the word using the color he is spelling. This also gives you a little break from your day of activities to catch your breath while he draws.

Educational Television: Allow your child to watch educational television that would further his learning. (PBS, Playhouse Disney, Nick Jr) are just a sample of educational channels he could get into. And some shows on these stations are physically engaging so your child will burn energy, if you engage in the activities with him and burn energy together.

Field Trips: Dedicate some time to bring your child to the museum to learn science and history. This will encourage your child to explore and have fun.

Nap Time: After a rowdy day of fun and learning, your child will have much to dream about. Allow him to take a nap and let all the information soak in. It is proven that playing classical music while your child naps opens apart of his mind that will allow him to take in more information and to better understand what you teach.

All these steps will bring you closer to your child and you will have a very smart, happy and wonderful young boy. I hoped these helped. I am just a 20 year old college student with a lot of ideas lol. I hope these work. GOOD LUCK! I know you will do great.

Your state will have a pamphlet with that info in it. Call the school and ask for the Kindergarten preparedness checklist. Or also find your state education website for the same info.

2.5 is pretty young to worry about pre-k stuff. read to him lots and talk about colours, animals, shapes. naybe a bit of counting.