When Do Kids Start Counting?
When Do Kids Start Counting?
Counting to 10 is one of those big developmental milestones every parent looks out for. As time goes on, it’s natural to wonder whether your child is hitting goals like these at the rate they’re supposed to. Especially if this is your first child, you may not know how counting habits typically begin to show in toddlers. To help you out, we’ve laid out a simple guide to basic mathematic development for young children, as well as some quick tips for how to get your child counting.
This blog outlines the standard expectations for toddlers as they start to get their heads around the concept of counting. For personalized advice or to book an assessment with a child’s development expert, contact Little Fish today.
Should my Toddler be Counting to 10?
Right from the moment a child explores the world, they are absorbing information. Math begins to slowly enter their world in a wide variety of different ways – from recognizing shapes and patterns, to eventually coming to understand the concept of numbers. As a child grows up, these mathematical concepts begin to formulate into a deeper understanding. So, when should counting become regular practice for a child?
The simple answer is that most toddlers will be able to count to 10 by the time they are around two years old. Every child is different, and this can vary, but it’s worth noting as well that at this stage reciting numbers isn’t necessarily a sign of understanding the larger concepts behind them. At this stage, children are repeating them from memory, as a part of their experimenting with rote counting.
What is Rote Counting?
Rote counting is essentially this idea of a child being able to count without being able to understand basic math concepts. Through hearing numbers repeatedly said out loud by others around them, children will begin to ‘count’ themselves. When rote counting to 10, children can either mimic the numbers in order, or they may jump around between numbers randomly. The more they hear correct counting around them, the more confident they’ll become in counting for themselves.
Though most toddlers can cite numbers by the age of two, it’s between two and four years of age that they will actually begin to comprehend math concepts. One-to-one correspondence is the first sign of your child actually coming to understand the concepts behind numbers. One-to-one correspondence is when children begin to group objects together, pointing to each individual item as they count them. While this is again a skill learned by copying others, it’s an early sign of deeper understanding.
Games to Get Your Child Counting
If your child is two and still not counting to 10 for themselves, there’s no need for panic. Every child is different and will learn at their own pace – some quicker than their peers, some slower. Working with your child regularly is a great way to help them learn their numbers, and there are plenty of fun ways you can be encouraging their development. Here are a couple of easy math games and activities you could play with your toddler:
Songs About Numbers
As a parent, you’ll know how many catchy tunes there are for toddlers out there. Plenty of them actually involve counting, and getting your child to sing along is a fun way to get them in the habit of counting! Jump on YouTube and search up ‘counting songs’ or ‘number songs’ to find one you like.
Coin Counting
Kids love ‘real life’ toys. Playing with coins and daily objects is one of the easiest ways to get your child counting. Stacking coins by size can get them into the routine of counting to ten, and discussing the different values of each coin can help build towards deeper math concepts they’ll be learning soon.
Take Things Outside
Toddlers thrive off of stimulation and shaking things up. Take your child out into the real world and take advantage of everything around you. As they count traffic lights, trees, animals, cars, or anything else, they won’t even realize they’re learning.
Contact Little Fish for Developmental Support
All children are going to grow at a pace that works for them – but, as a parent, it’s natural to worry. If it feels like extra activities aren’t helping your child, or if you’re concerned that their development is significantly behind their peers, there’s no reason not to reach out for an extra hand. At Little Fish, we work with children of all ages and abilities, helping to find activities and learning methods that work best for them as they get the hang of these big concepts. Call us today to discuss your child and book an assessment with an expert.