{"id":26869,"date":"2024-09-09T11:50:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T19:50:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abcmouse.com\/learn\/?p=26869"},"modified":"2025-05-23T10:32:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T18:32:29","slug":"teach-counting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abcmouse.com\/learn\/advice\/teach-counting\/26869","title":{"rendered":"Easy Ways to Teach Counting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Fun Ways to Teach Counting to Young Children<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Counting skills your child should learn, plus fun activities to help!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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By Jill Staake<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reviewed by Owen Bissell<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Summary: <\/strong>Teaching preschoolers to count starts with hands-on, everyday activities like counting steps, snacks, and toys. By engaging them through songs, games, and real-life examples, children build number recognition, one-to-one correspondence, and cardinality naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning how to count is a major milestone in a child\u2019s education, one that sets them up for basic arithmetic and all the advanced math that follows. A report<\/a> from the Northwest Evaluation Association highlights the importance of early math skills, citing a study<\/a> from the University of California, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Michigan which determined that \u201cpreschool math knowledge may predict math achievement<\/strong> through age 15.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research like this underscores the significance of early math skills, and helping a child learn to count is a great place to start. However, counting is more than just the ability to say the numbers in order. Kids must also learn that numbers represent groups of items<\/strong> and that numbers are represented in writing as numerals<\/strong>, which is why it’s important to teach counting and number recognition<\/a> hand-in-hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ABCmouse Preschool Math Curriculum<\/a> offers interactive games, fun activities, and structured lessons to help preschoolers build strong foundational math skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When Do Kids Learn to Count?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most children begin learning their numbers as preschoolers<\/a>. Around age three, you can begin to focus specifically on number recognition, counting, and other preschool math skills<\/a> to encourage exposure to counting and quantity concepts in daily life. Giving children early and consistent experiences of counting, such as counting small sets like their fingers or toys, and asking them questions like “Which group has more?\u201d can help them start developing the concepts of numbers and counting. <\/p>\n\n\n

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In kindergarten<\/strong>, kids often learn to count to 100 by ones AND by tens, count on from numbers other than 1, write numbers up to 20, and compare two groups of objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First graders<\/strong> typically learn to count, read, and write numbers to 120, including from numbers other than 1. First grade is also when students truly start relating counting to addition and subtraction.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benchmarks in a Typical Learning Trajectory for Counting <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As kids learn how to count, be sure they\u2019re mastering these key skills: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reciting (Rote Counting)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reciting in math refers to saying numbers out loud<\/strong> (by ones to 10) in order from memory. Reciting numbers in order from memory is different from counting. Counting involves understanding that each item in a set is counted once and the last number stated is the total for the set. Reciting numbers, however, involves saying them in chronological order. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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One-to-One Correspondence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This part of counting refers to ensuring children count each item in a set<\/strong>, without missing or repeating any. We usually teach this by having kids touch each item as they count it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Start by having kids count items set out in neat lines, since it\u2019s easier for them to ensure they don\u2019t miss any. When possible, have them pick up and move each item to a different pile as they count it. Remind them that each item in a group is only counted once. When your child has mastered this skill, you can progress to having them count items in random arrangements, checking to make sure they are tracking which objects have been counted and which have not.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Cardinality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This term means understanding that a number represents the total items in a set<\/strong>. When we count items, the last number counted is the cardinal number. If you count one-two-three-four bananas in a bowl, the cardinal number is four. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids don\u2019t need to know the term \u201ccardinal number,\u201d but they do need to make the connection between a number and the quantity of items they\u2019ve counted. Here\u2019s an example: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine a child counting beans, saying \u201cone, two, three, four, five, six.\u201d Six is the cardinal number in that set. When your child finishes counting the individual beans, ask them how many beans there are altogether. They should answer \u201csix.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Early Subitizing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Subitizing<\/a> is the ability to quickly and accurately recognize how many items are in a small set without counting<\/strong>. For example, you might subitize if you can tell how many dots are on a rolled die without counting them. Subitizing helps to set the stage for counting on and flexibly composing and decomposing numbers.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The act of comparing two small groups of objects (start with 1-5 objects for young children) and determining which has more or less by sight alone provides a great way for children to explore quantity and practice with subitizing early on. Try filling two small plates with a few crackers and ask your child to determine which plate has more or less crackers. Then challenge your child to tell you how many crackers are on each plate without counting them one by one.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Producing <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Producing refers to a child\u2019s ability to determine a certain number of objects<\/strong> when asked. For instance, if you asked your child to bring you five crayons, they would need to count out that number of crayons. This not only uses a child\u2019s counting skills but also uses their ability to keep a number in their mind while counting and stop at the number when they get to it.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Comparing Numbers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Comparing numbers and amounts, such as \u201cmore and less<\/strong>\u201d and \u201cbigger and smaller<\/strong>\u201d as they relate to numbers is another important skill for children to learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a way to help your child practice this at home: Lay out two groups of items, and have your child count the number of items in each group. Then ask which group has more and which has less. Write out the numbers, and ask which number is bigger and which is smaller. This basic concept readies kids for skills like subtraction. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Counting On <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many kids can recite the numbers one to ten quickly, all in a row. But what if you ask them to start at four or six instead of one? Students need to be able to pick up at any number and continue counting<\/strong>. This concept is called \u201ccounting on,\u201d and it\u2019s another key skill that prepares kids for activities like addition. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Counting Backwards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just like counting on can help with addition skills, learning to count backwards can help children understand the concept of subtraction. As children count backwards, they are essentially \u201ctaking one away\u201d as they work their way backwards down a set of numbers<\/strong>. When practicing the skill of counting backwards with your child, make sure they include the number zero. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Skip Counting (by 10s, then by 5s and 2s)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Skip counting is a method of counting forward or backward by a number other than one<\/strong>. It involves “skipping over” a specific number of places in the counting sequence. For example, to skip count by 5, you would start at 0 and skip the next number to go to the fifth number, which is 5. You would then continue counting every fifth number, such as 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and so on.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When introducing skip counting to children, start by skip counting by tens first, then move on to skip counting by 5s and 2s. Try these skip counting dot-to-dots and coloring sheets<\/a> to add some fun to this activity.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fun Activities and Games for Learning How to Count <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Counting is one of those skills kids can practice just about anywhere, and these hands-on games and activities make it all a lot more fun.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walk and Count <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Take a walk and count your steps as you go. Count the number of steps it takes to get to the neighbor\u2019s house or the corner, then write that number with sidewalk chalk or on a pad of paper you carry with you.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Online Counting Games <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Well-designed online games are a fantastic way to help kids learn to love math. Here are some of our favorite online counting games to try: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here are some of our favorites for number recognition games you can PLAY for FREE online: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Counting 1 to 5 With Lizzy<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Help Lizzy count the animals she saw at the zoo! Click each animal and watch the numbers go up from 1 to 5 as you turn the pages.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Memory Match – Counting 1 -10<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Take turns matching numbers and counting sets from 1 to 10! Practice early math skills together in this fun 2-player memory game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Numbers on the Fence<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Listen carefully and click the correct number on the fence! Practice number recognition from 1 to 20 in this fun and interactive math game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Number Grab #1<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tap to grab all the number 1s you see! Build number recognition and focus in this fun, fast-paced counting game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hungry Anteater<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Help the Hungry Anteater eat the right number of black ants\u2014just be sure to avoid the red ones! A fun way for kids to practice counting and number recognition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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MORE number recognition and counting games HERE!<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Counting Videos<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Use screen time to your advantage with videos that demonstrate how to count. Try this counting video<\/a> from ABCmouse, where kids learn to count from 11 to 20 with the help of some playful little birds on a wire.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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