5 1/2 Year Old Hard Time Remembering Names

Updated on September 12, 2007
S.H. asks from Clinton Township, MI
6 answers

My son has a hard time learning people's names. Actually adults he can remember just fine, but last year in preschool he could probably only name about 7 children out of the 35. Whenever we would see someone in the grocery store that we had never met before, he would always say, "is that one of my friends from preschool?" It got to be very embarassing or if we saw someone that he did know from preschool he would ask, "what's your name?" like he had never met them before.

Is this just something that he isn't interested in? He started kindergarten last week and every day I said, "let's play a game." When you get to school introduce yourself to someone and ask what their name is. When I pick you up, you can tell me all about your new friend.

Any other helpful advice would be very much appreciated.

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S.N.

answers from Detroit on

Well sometimes with kids if they dont hear the same name or a same routine over and over again sometimes if they dont feel that its not important to them they wont remember it. I had a hard time teaching my daughter her abc's but I put a tape in the vcr and I played it over and over again, I had to tame her how I think she would learn it. Like hearing a song on the radio you hear it enough you will remember it too. But alot of us parents dont give our kids the credit that they deserve, I know I did but I had to keep a more closer eye on her and I guess I wasn't paying enough attention to her, I was but not enough so I learned the hard way I had to pay little more than usual. But she got it pat down now, and my daughter is now 6yrs old she learned her abc's at the age of 1 1/2yrs old.

Ms. Jones

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L.N.

answers from Benton Harbor on

Hi S.~
I think what you are doing is a really good idea! While I do think it's totally normal, what a great skill for him to work on now. It will only serve to help him in the future. Personally, I have found that I am busy focusing on everything else when I meet somebody and I don't listen to their name...something I now have to correct as an adult...lol! I would say keep up the good work.
~L.

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B.W.

answers from Grand Rapids on

My daughters daycare gives us a class photo every spring, I label all the kids names, so when my 2.5 year old tells me something about a class mate she can show me there pic. I found this helpful 'cause she knows the names and faces, I just hear the names, and have to wonder what child it is.

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M.

answers from Saginaw on

Dear S., Maybe he remembers people different. Like instead of their name by their hair what their clothes look like. Next time you see someone and he asks if it is someone he knows ask him why he thinks that. Maybe it is because they have the same "red coat" as the person that he knows. Just a thought, I hope he has a great school year, M.

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K.W.

answers from Jackson on

Sweetheart, this is totally normal. Not only are their attention spans short, unless they are close to someone, it is hard to remember their names. Shoot, lol, I have that problem at 27. If someone makes an impression on him, or is close to him, he will remember them, if not, do not worry about it. Hes a regular little boy! Your doing good so do not worry okay hun?

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N.W.

answers from Detroit on

I would consider talking to your pediatrician. While it may be common for adults to have a hard time remembering someone they just met, a 5 year old should be able to remember the names of the children in his class. My son is 3 1/2 and just started a new pre-school a month ago. He already knows all the names of the 14 kids plus the teachers. At his old pre-school he knew all the parents and the cars they drove. Your son may be having some kind of difficulting placing faces and names.

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