Why Learning Numbers is Important for Preschool and Kindergarten Children 

Developing number sense or learning numbers is the foundation to working with mathematical concepts and learning numeracy skills later.

Learning how to count, recognise numbers and the ability to connect numbers to that many objects, is a basic math skill set, critical to academic success later in school.

According to the Developmental milestones and the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standards, Children in the 3-5 years age group should be able to

• count by rote, having memorised numbers

• count up to 5 to 10 things

• touch objects to count - starting to understand the relationship between numbers and objects

• may write some numbers and letters

How To Successfully Teach Numbers at Home Without Number Worksheets

When it comes to teaching numbers, most parents immediately think of number worksheets.

Number worksheets do have their benefits when teaching numbers, but I would not recommend beginning your number lessons with them.

Why Not to Use Number Worksheets First

A baby (most babies) learns to crawl before they walk, but before that, they learn to roll over on their tummy.

Likewise, for a child to begin writing numbers, they must first learn how to count, but before that, they need to develop a sense of awareness of what numbers even are.

Only then writing numbers or written numbers will have any meaning for them.

How Can We Help Children Learn Numbers?

The best ways are of course through fun ways.

Children learn best when they are thoroughly enjoying themselves.

As an Early Childhood teacher, I find the most fun and effective ways to introduce numbers to my preschool and kindergarten children is by singing, interactive reading and hands-on games.

Start with Rote Counting 

Rote counting is the core skill of early maths. Children must learn to count forward in the correct sequence first, or it will be impossible for them to count ‘how many’ or understand that, 5 is bigger in quantity than 4.

Singing is the most common way of introducing numbers to children.

Rote Counting is often introduced with Counting songs and nursery rhymes to children.

Here is how you can use the Garden Board from the activity bundle in the singing activity for forward counting with your child.

Place the Garden board and the bug cut-outs in front of your child.

Let your child look at the pictures and name all the bug characters. This exercise will build excitement for the activity.

Next, set aside 10 pieces of one garden bug character and let’s start singing. Add one bug on the garden board as you sing count together.

Counting Song- Using Garden Bugs and the Garden Board

1 little, 2 little, 3 little snail,

4 little, 5 little, 6 little snail,

7 little, 8 little, 9 little snail, 10 little snail in my garden.

Repeat the song with different sets of garden bugs.

1. snail

2. caterpillar

3. ant

4. worm

5. bug

6. bee

7. butterfly

8. grasshopper

9. spider

10. frog

Well done!

You have just counted 1-10, ten times with your child.

Counting Book- Interactive Reading ‘Where Are My 10 Pebbles Todd’

Let’s read ‘Todd the Frog Finds the Lost Pebbles.’

The eBook and Paperback version are both now available on Amazon.

Once again, let’s build some anticipation for reading this book first.

• Ask your child to tell you what they can see on the cover (e.g., why is the frog hiding, what might be its name, how many pebbles are on the floor – count them slowly together, what’s wrong with the bag, why does the girl look angry etc.)

• What do they think the title means or what the book is about?

Get comfortable. Bring your child’s attention to fact that Todd must find exactly 10 pebbles.

How many fingers are that?

Touch and Count together all the pebbles in the bag, as Todd adds them to the bag (each page).

Why touch and count?

When children touch objects while counting, it helps them begin counting rationally.

Encourage your child to say the numbers after you if they don’t have counting skills yet.

The idea is that with repetition, they will begin memorizing counting in the correct sequence.

Note: Don’t rush this activity.

Let your child enjoy the story and the characters in the book.

When children love the interaction while doing something, they will anticipate doing that more often, which means they will be excited about the next counting practice.

Counting -Using Garden Bugs Flashcards 

Flashcards play an important role in helping children understand the relationship between written numbers with the amount/ number of objects.

For example, this is number 2(numeral) and this is how many 2 is(objects).

Count the garden bugs on each card slowly with the children and then touch the number on the flashcard, clearly say the number and repeat e.g. 3 worms.

Written numbers on the flashcard help children develop number recognition skills.

What are Number Recognition Skills?

A child has good number recognition skills when they can identify and name the written numbers

Using the garden bugs flashcards also makes learning one-one correspondence fun and engaging.

What is One to One Correspondence?

When children touch and count, they are learning to assign one number to one object to give value to that number.  When children can count and match the correct number of objects(set), correctly to a number, they are using their one-to-one correspondence skill.

Counting - Number Recognition and One-One Correspondence

Congratulations on your hard work!

Now it is time to start practicing and perfecting the number recognition and one-one correspondence skill.

Activity 3 from the bundle is designed for an interactive number recognition game.

Here the children can practice recognizing the number on the bag and then count and place the correct number of pebbles in the bag for Todd.

Tip: You could encourage your child to refer to the flashcard as a visual aid. (Match the number on the bag to flashcard and count the bugs on the flashcards to know how many that number represents. That could help them count that many pebbles to match the number on the bag.)

Conclusion

Learning numbers from rote counting to number recognition skills is a journey. Some children find learning number skills far more challenging than others. 

Making number learning fun and interactive is the best way to encourage children to keep practicing.

My advice as an Early childhood teacher to parents would be not to rush this learning process.

Be patient but persistent. Practice regularly in fun, exciting ways.

I have outlined the steps that help children make sense of numbers. The activity bundle with the counting book was carefully designed to take the children through the whole journey- right from rote counting to number recognition skills.

You can download the complete bundle Here.