Counting Games for Kindergarteners

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1: What are the activities to learn counting numbers?

Ans: To learn counting numbers, students can use pictures to count, they can also count on fingers or use counters to count. Kids can learn counting numbers by playing games or using fun drawing and coloring activities and worksheets Further, they can also count forward or backward to practice counting.

Q2: How do we introduce counting to kids?

Ans: We can introduce counting to kids by looking at the things and objects in our surroundings and asking them "how many objects are there"? Kids learn to count by using their fingers. They may also use counters to count all the objects. Once they can easily count things up to 5, they can be gradually taught to count larger quantities using other counting techniques.

Q3: Till what number a child should be able to count in kindergarten?

Ans: A kindergartener should be able to count till 20 using various tools such as fingers on the hand, pictures, counters and objects.

Basic math and number concepts learnt in prekindergarten or kindergarten classroom lays the foundation for understanding higher math concepts. Counting is an essential foundation skill which kids begin learning through preschool activities. By the start of the first day of kindergarten, the kids are expected to count from 1 to 10 (basic rote memorization) and recognize some numerals. In kindergarten, the kids are expected to count to 100, count group of objects up to 20 and create complex patterns.

Kindergarten math involves variety of skills that includes:

1: Numeral Identification which involves identification or recognition of all 10 numerals from 0 to 9. The kindergarten curriculum expects kids to learn number names for numbers from 0 to 20.

2: Counting which involves learning counting strategies like count out loud, touch and count, move and count, line up and count, and count on.

3: Pattern recognition and creation which starts with recognizing pattern in the objects and extend to observing patterns in the number system.

4: Classifying and sorting which develops logical reasoning skills and divergent thinking in kids.

• Numeral Identification and counting sequence: In kindergarten, the kids learn to count to 100 by ones and tens. They learn forward rote counting by ones from any number less than 100.  When counting by tens, they are expected to count only by decades like 10, 20, 30, …. etc. The kids practice kindergarten worksheets to develop fluency with number sequence.

The kids learn to write numbers 0-20 in words. They also learn to represent a number by pictures or objects. For example, the kids can represent number 8 by 8 pictures or 8 tiles.

• Count to tell the number of objects in a set: The kids develop an understanding of numbers. They understand the relationship between the numbers and the quantities. They first learn one-to-one correspondence with numbers and objects. They connect one number with each object. They begin by counting objects in small sets.

 The kids also understand the order irrelevance while counting. They understand that the number of objects in a set remains the same irrespective of the arrangement or the order in which the objects are counted. Also, they understand that each successive number is one quantity larger. The kids practice various counting worksheets to strengthen their skills.

Counting strategies:

• Count out Loud: Counting out loud in everyday routine with kids can be fun way to develop fluency in counting. There are so many counting games that can be played in everyday routine. For example, asking kids to count the steps aloud while walking can develop fluency in counting. The games like counting crows sitting on a tree or counting coins can improve their counting skills.        
• Touch and count: When asked to count a group of objects, the kids touch each object and say 1 each time. They may touch the objects randomly at first. With proper instructions, the kids learn to math counts in sequence. They touch each object and count 1, 2, 3,…..
• Count and Move: Another strategy to teach counting is to move the objects being counted to another place. This strategy eliminates the chances of double counting any object.

• Line up and count: In this strategy, the objects are lined up and the kids are asked to say the counting sequence while touching the objects from left to right or right to left.
• Counting on: This strategy enables the kids to count new objects without recounting the already counted objects. For example, give kids four coins and ask him/her to count them. Now, give him/her two more coins. By using counting on strategy, the kid will start counting coins from five, six, instead of counting coins from 1.

• Pattern Recognition & Creation: Understanding patterns is an important everyday math concept. The kids start learning and recognizing patterns at an infant stage. There are many toddler games based on pattern recognition. Understanding this form an important part of the early childhood education. The first type of patterns introduced at pre school are AB patterns. These are the patterns that involve two objects lined up in an alternating manner. For example, car bike car bike and so on. Gradually, the understanding of the math patterns grows among kids. They develop their skill from recognizing AB pattern to understanding ABC pattern and much more. The skills are further enhanced by practicing various pattern worksheets.

This understanding enables kids to recognize the recurring math patterns in counting. When counting, they notice the recurring pattern of the digits from 0 to 9. This makes it easier for them to learn the long counting sequence up to billions and trillions.

• Sorting and Classifying to compare numbers: Sorting and classifying forms a part of preschool activities or kindergarten worksheets. These activities or worksheets develop logical reasoning skills which in turns develop comparing skills in the kids. While comparing two different sets of objects, for example, apple and oranges, the kids can be made to put all the apples in one group and all the oranges in another group. They may then be asked to arrange all the apples in one line and oranges in another line. Sorting and arranging objects in a line makes comparison easier. Sorting and comparing different objects in groups are some of the activities which form the base for understanding higher mathematical concepts. The kids develop skills to compare numbers presented to them in different ways. They compare number of objects in different sets to identify which set has fewer or lesser objects. 

Strategies for comparing numbers:

• Matching numbers  
• Counting strategies        
• Equal strategies

Manipulatives For Learning Counting

Learning Math concepts become fun when manipulatives are incorporated in the learning. The abstract concepts like counting and numbers are easier to understand through manipulatives. For example, the kids often get distracted when counting to 20 or higher numbers. This problem can be solved by coin counter. Giving 20 coin counters to kids for counting, he/she will likely use on-to-one correspondence and count all 20 counters without getting distracted.

These counters also proves beneficial in teaching sorting and pattern recognization to kids. For example, verbally telling patterns to the kids might confuse them. However, showing the pattern through coin counter makes it easier for them to understand and they are able to continue the same pattern.

Learning counting in a fun way

Counting the beans: Developing fluency in counting to 10. 

Take 10 plastic cups and label them 1-10. Give a bowl filled with marbles to the kids and ask them to put marbles in each cup. The number of marbles in each cup should be same as the number labelled on them.

Memory matchup- Fish counts: This activity aims to develop number sense and skills to count to 10.

The game will have 20 cards. Of which 10 cards will have numerals from 1 – 10 and the other 10 cards will have pictures of fish from 1 – 10. The game is played by mixing up the cards and laying them in rows face down. The player 1 turn over any two cards, if the cards match, that is, the fish counts and the number on the cards are the same. He/She keeps the cards. If they do not match, they are turned back over. The players need to remember what was on each card and the place where they are. The game gets over when all the cards are matched. The player with the maximum number of match cards won the game.