We’ve all been there: your child proudly recites, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!” and you beam with pride. It’s a huge milestone! But did you know there is a big difference between reciting numbers like a song and actually counting?

As we hit the middle of the school year, we want to make sure every child has a rock-solid foundation in counting. This is the secret sauce that makes later math feel easy instead of frustrating.

The Three “Counting Superpowers”

When we look at how kids count, we are watching for three specific skills:

1. One-to-One Correspondence: Does your child touch exactly one object for every one number they say? (No “skipping” or “double-touching”!)
2. Cardinality: If they count five beans and you ask, “So how many are there?”, do they know the answer is five? Or do they have to start counting from 1 again?
3. Organization: Can they move objects into a “counted” pile so they don’t get lost?

Ready to start counting? Click here to download your Family Guide to Supporting Counting at Home!