"Learning Time" Series: Counting and Numbers

Garrison's introduction to counting and numbers came through books before he was 2 years old. We had a few counting books that went to 10 and I can remember reading them to him as a little 1.5 year old and 2 year old and trying to teach number recognition and one-to-one correspondence. I may have gone a little overboard... just a tad. I would point to the picture of a penguin and say, "1 penguin", then I'd point to the number 1 on the page and say "Here's the number 1 for 1 penguin." We'd do that for every number and then count the penguins on each page. Poor child. He just needed me to read him the book about penguins!

Honestly I think it's great to point out those things and to count the little objects or animals on the pages of those counting books, but you don't have to be crazy about it or do it every single time or start before age 2. I'm definitely planning to switch around the order of things for Austin.... because (in my opinion at least) number recognition and one-to-one correspondence need to be put off a little longer.

The Christmas before Garrison turned 2 he got a new book that had a whole page of objects and numbers to match them 1-10. And they were all on the same page so we weren't having to flip through page after page after page to finally finish counting to 10. At some point after he turned 2 and finally took an interest in the book, he learned to count to 10. And it happened almost overnight. After "reading" that page a few times and just sort of rote counting to 10 a few times, he had it down. He couldn't actually count objects up to 10 yet, but he could rote count to 10.

After he learned to count to 10, then we started practicing counting actual things... hotwheels, crayons, Fruit Jammers (his snack of choice most days), raisins, money for his piggy bank (as in number of coins, not value), etc. It took a while for him to master. Probably months before he got really good. And it definitely required patience from both of us because there is a big difference in spouting off numbers and having to actually concentrate and count. Sometimes he still has trouble keeping up with what he's counting. I try to have him move the item to a new pile once it's been counted... but sometimes he just doesn't want to do it mama's way.

Finally, after he turned 3 at the beginning of February, we revisited number recognition and one-to-one correspondance and by that point he was ready. We pulled out the numbers that came in the packet with the bath letters. We worked on a numbers puzzle. We started pulling out "old" counting books and asking him what number was on each page. And because he already knew some stuff... like what number was coming next and how to count the penguins (or whatever) on the page, he always had a clue to help him remember or guess the number. He officially recognizes all of this numbers, but still mixes up 6 and 9 and sometimes 1 and 7.

My favorite one-to-one correspondence activity has to be an idea I found at icanteachmychild.com. I had to thoroughly explain the directions because at first Garrison wanted to put his little Fruit Jammers all over the page in any box he wanted. I think I ended up saying, Which color only has 1? There is only 1 and it's all by itself? What box do you think it goes in? What number should it be beside? Okay, now which color only has 2? There's only 2 ______. So what box should they go in? What number should they be beside? Very thorough I tell you. But you can do it with any numbers and any small objects or food... but I recommend food because then they can eat afterwards and it's more fun. And I also recommend starting with something that's all the same color.

And I know I keep talking about books, but any of the counting books are great, once they're ready of course, to show a picture of 5 penguins and the number 5. =)

Next up... shapes and something else. Haven't decided yet.