Taking Things for Granted......don't

As adults, since we can read and write we take a lot of things for granted.  We get the literacy code so we think little ones do as well.

Yesterday, I was reminded again that they don't always.   I was reading an ABC book with Parker, my 5 year old grandson, and pointed out the letter A.   I reminded him that A was in his name.  He said, No, G, that's the ABC letter A, not the A in my name.  I quickly explained that they were the same letters.   We use the letters in the alphabet to make our names and other words.  He looked at me as if he wasn't quite sure.

Parker's oral language can match that of a lot of adults and he is pretty adept at numbers so it's easy to make the assumption that his literacy knowledge would be as developed.  However, many times in the beginning, one area will develop before another.  

The fact that he didn't realize all names/words use the 'alphabet' letters made me smile.  It was easy to explain and make him aware.  Since our conversation, when he sees a letter that is in his name he reminds me that it is the same letter.