A Mom Needing Help !

I sit and watch Super Why and World World with my son in the mornings. These are cartoons on KERA. Super Why comes on at 10 and Word World at 11:30. My son is 2 and loves these shows. I know someone else who'S son watches them and he is starting to read from watching these shows. He is 3.

Congratulations on getting him back. If you aren't opposed to learning through TV, my son learned his colors, numbers, and shapes through the Preschool Prep Company DVDs and books. http://www.preschoolprepco.com He already knew his letters, but they have a letter DVD too. Obviously I still work with him on it, and never just let him sit and watch without me with him, but they provide a wonderful foundation for someone like me with no creativity in teaching! They are a little pricey, but maybe you can find them on ebay or something. Sorry I can't help with the biting.

I agree with Tamara on biting: bite him back. It only took once for this to happen with our daughter who is now 5 and she never bit again!
As far as letters and numbers--Little Einstien videos are cute and also fun flashcards work. My sister keeps my daughter after her pre-school and she has always worked with them on flashcards.
I also trace the letters/numbers and have my daughter do the same.
Hope this helps!

Colors - try putting up color charts or those posters they have at the teacher supply store; make a song out of them and he will learn them no problem.

Numbers - always say numbers starting 1-10 when doing things like going up stairs or counting objects.

Letters - just start singing the alphabet song over and over from time to time and he will catch on.

Since he is only 3, his attention span won't be that long for learning. Always do it in spurts. If you do it for too long at one time, he'll lose interest.

Biting......bite him back. He'll stop. It worked for me and I know others that it has worked for.

Congratulations on getting your little angel back. Not knowing your situation, it seems as though you have a frustrated little one. Don't forget, there have been a lot of changes going on around him. I would also assume that he did not have a lot of attention where he was staying. Please resist the temptation to bite him back. When he bites, say firmly, NO BITE, and remove him from the situation. I always used time out and it worked because I was consistent. Three minutes is all it takes. If he will not sit on his own,gently hold him in the chair. I always made sure that my son understood what was expected of him. If you play with other children, tell him no biting and reward him at the end if he succeeds.
Does he have some speech issues? My son talked very late and had speech therapy from 2.5 years until kindergarten. Make learning fun. Use music for the alphabet. When you are with him, talk to him and point out colors in your home, on his plate, his toys. Be patient, he has been through a lot.
Don't hesitate to get him evaluated by a professional. I am sure the state has programs for early intervention that he would qualify for.
Good luck, and give him a HUGE HUG from me.

I bet that feels good to have him back. The main thing to focus on is providing an environment that is positive and nurturing. The learning will follow if these two things are met. Children are like sponges and will acquire the skills in time. Relax, love him, and provide activities that will encourage him to learn them, but I would not put any pressure on him. He will get it. If he likes DVD's (what three year old doesn't right) he may like the Letter Factory. He is young so it is not abnormal to not be doing all of this, especially if he did not have his mommy---that stress may be why he isn't doing some of it.

Make learning fun........just tell him the names of letters on his clothing while you are dressing him.....while you are at McDonalds or Sonic...."Look at that S on your cup son" write letters and words on his toys.....on his ball get a permanent marker and write the word ball.....and play ball with him....everytime he catches the ball say B is for ball.....give him a pen and a pad of paper to copy words at the grocery store .....even if he is just scribble writing it will make him feel big to make a list....say ...oh we need bread ....write down bread...etc. Am I making sense? Give him sidewalk chalk....let him trace letters......teach him songs about colors....example..use puppets and songs.....they listen to puppets better than they will to you...if the puppet talks to him about biting...he will pay attention...make it funny....while you teach...
SONG
tune to are you sleeping...R E D red R E D red I can spell red I can spell red....firetrucks are red stop signs are red R E D.....R E D.....

Read books read books and read some more books ...interactively.....asking questions.....pointing out colors and letters and numbers.......Oh I could go on and on....let him write his name in shaving cream...sensitive skin kind...........make learning fun ......not a chore and I guarantee if you will keep child occupied having fun they will not have time to think about biting......

Congratulations on having him back. I haven't seen the KERA shows mentioned, but maybe I should. lol As far as his biting goes, I would not bite. I think he is doing it out of frustration, maybe out of not being able to communicate what he really wants/needs/means. It may also be his way of getting attention for any stress he's had. It could be both.

Role play and practice with him on how to handle the situations where he's biting. If it's when he's angry, for example, then practice how to properly show our anger (take a deep breath, take a break from the situation, or whatever method you feel is correct.)

Sometimes kids use the methods that are easier because they don't know what alternatives there are. So, just take some time to practice with him on social skills. Plus, it will give you time together. :)

This is going to sound very extreme, but when my oldest bit, I explained to her that when you bite others, there are a lot of germs she could get in her mouth...we washed her mouth out. Never bit again.

Numbers, colors and letters...lots of picture cues and repetition. Flash cards or pictures around the house work great!