Number Recognition and Counting in the Early Years

INTRODUCING YOUR CHILD TO NUMBERS

As your baby starts to grow and understand more, they become more curious about their environment and the world around them. This would be a great time to start gently introducing numbers to them through play and experiences. At first children are not expected to recognize numbers or count, this is a skill which is usually achieved between the ages of 3 and 5 years old, and even then it is a slow process, starting from counting up to 5 and then ten, gradually increasing as they grow older. Below is a time line with a rough indication for your child's number journey

7 to 12 Months: Delving Deeper into Quantities

As your little one grows, so too does their grasp of quantities. Between 7 to 12 months, they begin to understand the 'more' concept – that is, recognising a larger group of objects as 'more.' This early comprehension of relative quantities is crucial for their later understanding of numbers and arithmetic operations. To nurture this skill, engage in interactive play with stacking toys, where your child can visibly see 'more' as you add pieces. This milestone can be observed as your child expresses excitement or eagerness towards larger groups of objects, food, or toys.

Count on your toddler's journey of discovery 13 to 18 Months: The Dawn of Counting

Around this stage, your toddler starts to explore the magical world of counting. They may begin with counting to two, mimicking your voice, often without understanding what it means. But this echoing, known as 'rote counting,' forms a significant step towards grasping number concepts. It's about familiarising them with the pattern and rhythm of numbers.

You can aid their journey by incorporating counting into daily routines – for example, counting the stairs as you ascend or the apples as you place them into the basket. This developmental leap will be apparent when your child starts to recite numbers or show excitement when you initiate a counting game.

19 to 24 Months: Number Recognition

Just after your toddler's second birthday, you might witness their first attempts at number recognition. It's about associating the 'spoken' numbers they've been learning with the 'written' counterparts. This step is instrumental in their numerical literacy, bridging the gap between abstract and tangible numbers.

To support their learning, consider books, puzzles, or toys that combine visual and auditory stimuli. You'll know they've reached this milestone when they start pointing out numbers in their surroundings or correctly identifying numbers in their favourite books.

 Ages 2 to 3

 25 to 26 Months: Understanding 'One' and 'Two'

Towards the close of their second year, toddlers begin to comprehend the numerical value of one and two. Instead of merely reciting or recognising these numbers, they'll grasp that one symbolises a single object, and two denotes a pair. This milestone paves the way for their understanding of counting as a means to determine quantity.

Encourage games that involve distributing items – like sharing out biscuits, one for each family member. The demonstration of this milestone might be as delightful as your toddler correctly offering one toy to a playmate, or proudly showing two fingers when asked their age.

 2 to 2.5 Years: Recognising Basic Shapes

At around two years of age, children often start to distinguish simple shapes. The square, circle, and triangle become their first geometric acquaintances. Recognising shapes is a preliminary step towards understanding spatial relationships, a key aspect of later mathematical thinking. 

You can point out and name shapes in everyday objects, such as a round clock or triangular slice of pizza to reinforce this area of learning. When your child begins to correctly identify these shapes, either through their toys or items around the house, you'll know they're reaching this milestone.

 2.5 to 3 Years: Sorting and Categorising

Following their shape recognition, little ones begin to group objects based on shared characteristics, such as colour, size, or shape. This capacity to sort and categorise introduces them to the concept of sets, laying the groundwork for future understanding of data and statistics. 

Encourage this ability by providing multi-feature toys that they can sort or by creating fun sorting games with household items. When you see your child independently grouping their toys by colour, shape, or type, it signals they're achieving this milestone.

Preschool readiness

3 Years: One-to-One Correspondence

As your child nears three, they typically start to grasp one-to-one correspondence - understanding that each object in a set corresponds to one number word when counting. This is crucial for their development of counting accuracy and later, arithmetic skills. 

To support this, engage in play activities that involve counting individual items, like toy animals or pieces of fruit. If your child is able to touch each object once and only once as they count, it’s an indication that they've mastered this milestone.

 3 Years: Basic Understanding of Size and Quantity

Also around this age, children develop a rudimentary comprehension of size and quantity comparisons - grasping concepts like big and small, more and less, and same and different. These are vital early measurement skills, influencing their ability to understand number operations and fractions later. 

Encourage this by integrating size and quantity comparisons into daily conversations and activities. For example, ask if they want a 'big' or 'small' slice of cake, or whether they'd like 'more' or 'less' milk. If your child begins making such comparisons themselves or appropriately responding to your questions, it’s evidence they're hitting this milestone.

Try this: Percussion instruments are ideal for maths games so play games with sound makers – make two noises with a shaker, then three. Try number songs – if you need to refresh your memory, you’ll find lots of lyrics at Teaching Your Child.

Getting ready for school learning fun

Age 4: Mastering Counting to 20

As your child flutters towards their fourth birthday, you'll notice them becoming adept at counting up to 20. This is an important bridge to a more intricate world of numbers. Consistent practise can bolster this progression. Integrate counting into daily routines: while setting the table, count the forks; or when walking, count the number of trees you pass. When your child spontaneously counts to 20, either during their play or everyday activities, this key milestone has been reached.

Try this: Real life resources help your child learn through play. Take a look at our hands-on numeracy resources that will help boost early years maths skills to find age-appropriate, play-based resources to boost your child’s maths skills.

 Age 4 to 5: Understanding Simple Patterns

Between the ages of 4 to 5, children usually begin to recognise, create, and extend simple patterns. This ability aids logical thinking and problem-solving. The world around us is teeming with patterns - stripes on a shirt, rhythm of a song, or the sequence of traffic lights. 

Bring their attention to such patterns when you see them around you and encourage them to create their own with toys or drawings. You'll discern this accomplishment when your child starts identifying patterns or eagerly creating their own using toys, blocks, or crayons.

For resources and toys on counting and numbers click HERE