Numbers and counting are important milestones in a child’s development. We may think that children only learn numbers and start counting at school. However, the truth is that children start learning numbers as soon as they start exploring what’s around their world. Also, learning numbers and starting counting make the basis up for other skills, like identifying shapes.

It is a popular opinion that counting has to be taught, but many studies suggest that we are born with an instinct that the neuropsychologist Brian Butterworth explains as something similar to the idea of color. We can perceive the ”threeness” of a group of items just as we perceive the ”blueness” of the sky.

Being born with this instinct doesn’t mean that we don’t have to actually learn the names and the symbols of numbers in order to develop upon this instinct. Children start acquiring math skills as soon as they start exploring the world. Around a certain age, many children reach math milestones. However, since children develop at different rates, don’t worry if your child has not started showing off their skills.

You can introduce your child to counting and math skills as well as thinking from the start. A study shows that children as young as 12 months can have a sense of how many items are in a set (up to three objects) thanks to the innate sense of number they have. Once they learn the connections between the language we use to represent the numbers and this innate sense they have, counting comes along.

Simplest way to begin

The simplest number concept that children can develop is rote counting. Rote counting is the ability to say numbers in order from memory. This means that this skill consists of counting numbers sequentially. This comes easy to most children and it begins developing before children recognize numerals.

While the skill is developing, the child doesn’t actually count the objects. They say the numbers in their correct sequence. The simplest way to do rote counting is starting from one and counting upwards, and it is a core skill that is related to early maths. Once the child grasps the skill, they can do it in different ways and contexts, like counting backward or starting from different points.

It is normal for your toddler to skip some numbers while they count, for instance, they may jump from 4 to 7 while counting sequentially. This is called pre-counters and it is very typical for two-year-olds. Don’t worry if you encounter this in your child; as you keep modeling the correct way to say the numbers, they will be exposed to counting and numbers and learn the right way to count. 

The following stage after pre-counters is the chanters level. At this stage, children can say numbers and count, but do this in a sequence, meaning that they group the numbers. When you interrupt them along the way, they may not be able to continue where they left off, but rather start from the beginning. After chanters comes the reciter. Here the child can verbally count to 5 and further. The reciter stage is considered pretty advanced so you should not be expecting your child to master the skill right away.

You may wonder how you can help your child develop numbers and counting skills outside the school environment. Counting everyday objects in your surroundings would be a great start. Parents and caregivers can also count along with their children. When you start practicing with your child, you may notice that at first, they learn the numbers in a different order. Your child may even memorize and repeat a certain sequence of numbers and count like that often. This is not out of the ordinary. By the age of four, children usually can count up to 10 or beyond. However, they develop the ability to grasp the actual concept of counting (which is an abstract concept) around the ages of two and four. 

Math skills at different ages

Learning counting and numbers makes up the basis of your child’s math skills. It is always important to remember that the specific ages related to the math skills milestones are just guidelines as every child develops at a different rate and at their own pace.

Babies that are up to 1 year of age can understand the basic cause and effect relations, sizes and relative sizes like small and big. Babies at this age may also understand words that are related to quantities, and can predict the sequence of events. For instance, the baby can understand that if the door opens, mommy will come.

Toddlers of the age 1 to 2 can show how many years old they are since they are now able to understand that numbers mean ”how many.” Also, they may understand that words can indicate comparison or measure, like saying ”faster.” Toddlers may also recite numbers, although they may skip some.

In preschool, children of 3 to 4 years of age can compare and contrast height or sizes, and recognize shapes around them. They can also count up to 20. These children can make the connection between numerals and number names. For instance, they may understand that ”two” is related to ”2.”

Kindergartners can follow very basic maps and they can add by counting on their fingers on one hand. They can understand and follow directions that consist of multiple steps, and draw symmetrical shapes.

First and second graders can understand and know the difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. They can count to 100 by ones, twos, fives, and tens. Around these ages, which are 6 to 7, they can write and understand numerals from 0 to 100, and recognize the words for numbers from one to twenty. They can also do basic addition and subtraction up to 20.

Of course, counting and math skill development is not just limited to the four walls of the school. There are many fun games and activities you can try at home to improve your child’s math skills while also having fun.