Preschool Beginning Counting

Many parents, and educators, have trouble knowing what beginning counting should involve. It is so simple that it is hard to imagine or remember trying to “learn” counting for the first time. Keeping it simple and not rushing are the keys to success now and in your preschooler’s future.

"A hundred years ago, researchers in logic discovered that virtually all of the concepts used by working mathematicians could be reduced to one of two extremely basic operations namely the operation of counting or the operation of grouping objects into sets. Most people are able to perform both of these operations before they enter kindergarten." John Mighton from The Myth of Ability Nurturing Mathematical Talent in Every Child

EveryDay Mathematics, the pervasive curriculum in U.S. schools, have two early childhood counting goals. The first, being able to count 1 to 10 objects with one-to-one correspondence (not counting the same object twice). Organization is the key to developing one-to-one correspondence. Excellent objects to count are caps of any kind like orange juice or milk container caps. Begin a collection so your child is counting the same objects. 

Generally without any education, a child can grasp the number of their age; anything above their age needs to be taught and taught slowly. The concepts of adding, subtracting, multiplication and division can be taught well, avoiding place value, using just the numbers 1-9. The mistake in educating a child to count is the constant push to higher numbers, when there really is no need.

Remember this, if the child cannot count backwards from the number they count up to, then it is not mastery of the counting goal. Think of counting numbers as staircase, if you cannot come down them, they are only half useful and won’t bring you back to where you started. Equal praise and emphasis on counting down is missing in education. 

When working with your preschooler start at their age. Give them that number of caps, they can count or guess how many the have. To check place the caps on the number organization paper they believe it is.

The second early education goal is performing rote counting from 1 to 20. This is akin to learning the alphabet in a song. Actual understanding comes with using a number board and pointing to each number. This reinforces one-to-one correspondence and the idea of larger numbers taking up larger areas. The number board shown below develops the left to right reading pattern when counting up or down. Find the resources for these goals at the ColorMyMath store.