Counting to 10

Counting is one of the most important early maths skills.

Key Skills

1. Rote counting — saying numbers in order: 1, 2, 3...
2. One-to-one correspondence — touching each object as they count
3. Cardinality — understanding the last number counted is the total

Activities

Counting Walk: Go for a walk and count what you see: 3 trees, 5 cars, 2 dogs.

Snack Maths: Count out crackers, grapes, or raisins. "Can you give me 4?"

Number Line Hop: Draw numbers 1-10 on the ground with chalk. Hop to each number as you count.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping numbers (1, 2, 4, 5...)
• Counting too fast and missing objects
• Not understanding the last number = the total amount

Keep it fun and physical — young children learn best through movement and play.