Counting with skill and understanding is an important problem-solving tool in mathematics. Only through repetition and practice does a child learn to count the items of a collection to determine the total. Even though a young child may be able to count out loud, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, he or she may still be unable to accurately count a collection of objects. This is because the child is still in he process of learning that there must be a one-to-one match between each number said and each object in the collection.
Play comparing games. This will help develop the concept of one-to-one matching. For example, ask your child if there are more crayons or pencils? In the beginning, children may physically have to move the objects next to each other and match them one-to-one to know which group has more or less. The example below shows how a child might match pencils and paper, one-to-one, to determine which object has more.
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Other items can be compared also. At dinner, ask your child if there are as many forks as spoons. In the grocery store, ask your child if there are more cereal boxes or juice boxes in the shopping cart. In the bathroom, ask your child if there are as many combs as brushes.
Play matching games. Ask your child to put one plate by each chair at the dinner table. Then, ask your child to put one napkin by each plate. This will help reinforce one-to-one matching.
Encourage your child to touch, count, and move. As each object in a collection is counted, it is touched and moved away from the rest of the objects.
Count household objects to ten (e.g., plates and forks for the table, crackers for snack, pennies for candy at the store).
Visit the school or public library. Check out some counting books to read to your child. (See the book list below.)
Sing counting songs such as "This Old Man" and "One, Two buckle My Shoe."
Books
Counting Wildflowers, by Bruce MacMillan
Fish Eyes, by Lois Ehlert
Five Little Ducks, by Raffi
One Hunter, by Pat Hutchins
One Was Johnny, by Maurice Sendak
Over in the Meadow, by Paul Galdone
Rooster's Off to See the World, by Eric Carle
Snowballs, by Lois Elhert
Ten Apples Up On Top, by Leo LeSieg
This Old Man, by Pam Adams
The Three Billy Goats Gruff, by Marcia Brown
The Three Bears, by Paul Galdone
The Wind Blew, by Pat Hutchins
Computer Programs
Millie's Math House, by Edmark Corporation
Trudy's Time and Place House, by Edmark Corporation
Jump Start Math, by Knowledge Adventure
Peter's Numbers and Adventures, by Apple Corporation
Math Blaster, by Davidson Associates
Math Blaster Plus, by Davidson Associates
Thinkin' Things Collection, Edmark Corporation
Board Games
Hi Ho Cherry-O
Hungry Hippo
Dominoes
Trouble
Chutes and Ladders
Mancala