During which developmental stage should a child begin to recognize letters and symbols?

The correct answer indicates that by the age of 3 years (36 to 46 months), children typically start to recognize letters and symbols. During this stage of development, children are becoming increasingly aware of the world around them, including print and its significance. They often begin to show interest in letters that appear in their environment, such as those found in books, on signs, and in their names.

At this age, children are developing their cognitive and linguistic skills, which includes beginning to understand that letters represent sounds and ideas. Engaging with books, pointing out letters, and playing with letters in various forms—like toys or puzzles—can enhance this recognition process. It is a fundamental part of early literacy development, laying the groundwork for future reading skills.

Younger children, such as those within the 0 to 24 months range, are primarily focused on sensory exploration and basic interactions with their caregivers and immediate environments, which means they may not yet have the developmental capacity to recognize letters and symbols in a meaningful way. By age 3, however, their cognitive skills have advanced enough for letter recognition to begin to emerge.