Numeracy Report 

Spotlight on Counting

Counting is one of the first experiences of maths for young children. Learning the counting words often begins with a favourite song or rhyme and the repetition of the number names. 

Listen for the counting sequence in these songs and rhymes:

• Five Little Ducks

• Ten in the Bed 

• 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe 

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I Caught a Fish Alive 
• Ten Green Bottles
• Five Little Monkeys 

As children move on to counting a collection of objects they begin to link each object with one number name. In the beginning, encourage your child to touch each object as they say the matching number’s name. Children will begin by counting all objects in a group, for example, fingers and toes, the buttons on their clothes, steps to the house or their toys. When beginning to count a group of objects, children may arrange the objects in an order to help them. Later they will be able to start counting at any object to find the total. Some children will need to repeat the count of the objects if the arrangement has been changed, such as the blocks were in a row and now they are in a group. This can be a good way to explore the idea that the last number counted says how many there are in the group.

Kind Regards, 

Klaudia Jellis

Leader of Mathematics