Corbin is almost 4 and we are still working on him visually knowing his ABC's. He is really good with his numbers. He's really, really good with knowing all of the dinosaurs and their names. He can tell you most of the Pokemon names, types and attacks. ABC's...not so much. He seriously has zero interest in learning his ABC's. He'll be excited for 2.3 seconds and then the excitement disappears and is replaced by a whiney irritation.
So I bribe him to work on them. With Candy.
Say the letter right, you get a piece of candy. Yay! What kid wouldn't focus for a little bit to get some candy?
I would use snacks like goldfish, but they just don't have the power that candy does.
Really though, since he doesn't know all his ABC's he doesn't end up with a ton of candy. Maybe 10 pieces by the time we are done. For now at least.
I'm sure I'm setting him up for failure once preschool rolls around. "That's the letter A, now where is my candy?" But we'll deal with that issue when and if it comes up.
I think it's a great idea! Hey, whatever it takes, right?! Hopefully by the time preschool rolls around, he'll know them all and wont' expect candy. You can only hope, at least, right?! He'll get there, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteWell...if he expects candy it's the teachers problem, right? Totally kidding! I figure I'll ease him off the candy as he gets better. That's the plan at least. :)
DeleteThat is such a great idea! I don't know a kid who doesn't like candy,haha! ;)
ReplyDeleteNew follower from the link up...hope you will follow back!
Krystle
www.liferevolvesaroundthem.com
Hey it works and you do whatever works! So many of the kids in my son's class don't know their alphabet and that's okay they spend a week on each letter and do really fun things with them! :)
ReplyDeletePart of me isn't worried for that exact reason but the other part of me wants him to know it before he starts. We had this issue with my now 7 yr old when he started preschool. He knew all his ABC's from working with him, shows, etc. He started school and we discovered our school uses the D'nealian style of writing, which is pretty different than normal block style. It was such a struggle for him to re-learn! So I'm trying to combat that early.
DeleteLOL! This reminds me of Adam Sandler's SNL. Have you seen it? It's where he gives tips on inexpensive halloween costumes. "Heey look at me! I'm Mr. I'm-about-to-sneeze-guy! Ah.. Ah.. ah.. CANDY!!"
ReplyDeleteHahaha Oh, Erica. I love you. :)
DeleteIt gives Corbin incentive to learn those letters! lol I've done similar things with Jayla. I've been struggling to get her to count to 100 by herself. She knows it but for some reason she wants to stop at 39
ReplyDeleteDawson did and still does the same thing! Always during the testing for his abilities. It's like he gets bored and doesn't want to keep going.
Deletehi sarah, i found you thru blog hop. I wonder if you want to follow each other? :)
ReplyDeleteyour baby is so adorable..
Sarah
http://cashonya.blogspot.com/
Thank you and thanks for stopping by! I followed you! :)
DeleteHahahah I LOVE this! Totally will be flagging this for when my kids are old enough! And I agree - candy has way more pull than Goldfish. Way more. Well played. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
It works! He'll actually sit through all letters now where before it was 2 letters and he was gone.
DeleteSo funny! I totally agree with Heather, who wants sucky goldfish when candy is an option?
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with us!
xoxo
Megan @ thememoirsofmegan.com
I love goldfish and I would pick candy any day over goldfish. Thanks for hosting the link up! :)
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