You can count to 10. Now let’s count real things! Touch each one and say one number.
Key idea
One touch, one number. Every thing gets exactly one number.
Why it works
If you touch a thing twice, it gets two numbers and your count is too big. If you miss one, your count is too small. One number for each thing keeps it right.
Worked example: Counting ducks
Five ducks sit in a row. Count them.
- Touch the first duck and say 1.
- Touch the next duck and say 2. Then 3, 4, 5.
- Every duck got one number, and no duck got two.
Answer: 5 ducks
Common mistake
Touching one thing twice, or skipping one, while the counting words keep going. Fix it by moving each thing aside (or tapping it) as you count. Then you can see what is done.
For grown-ups: Ask your child to move each counted object from one pile to another. Moving makes “one touch, one number” easy to see.