In order to count, as well as learning the order of number names, children also need to establish one-to-one correspondence – that is counting each item in a set once only. There are lots of activities you can do to support this concept.
- Do ten jumps and practise saying one number for each jump.
- Count stairs as you climb them.
- Count how many windows are in the room.
- Count the footsteps from your house to the bottom of your garden, or from the front door to the bedroom, or from the kitchen to the bathroom.
- Talk through setting the table, how many plates, knives, forks etc do you need?
If counting items grouped together knowing where to start and stop can be tricky, encourage your child to line them in rows and touch each one, once only. Then build up to moving them around and lining them up again to help teach the concept that moving objects does not change the total.
