Counting is more than saying numbers in order. Children learn to give each object exactly one number, and that the last number they say tells them how many there are. Tapping each picture as it is counted builds exactly that habit.
What your child will learn
- Say the numbers 1 to 5 in order
- Touch each object once while counting
- Know that the last number counted tells you how many
- Recognise the written numbers 1 to 5
- Make a group of up to 5 objects
One number for each object
Young children often count faster than they point, or count the same object twice. In these games every picture lights up with its number when it is tapped, so it is easy to see which ones have been counted — and tapping a counted picture again takes it back.
Filling the basket
Making a group of a given size — “put 4 apples in the basket” — is harder than counting a group that is already there, because children must know when to stop. It is a big step towards understanding what numbers mean.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. How many apples?
Tap each one to count it!
- 4
- 1
- 2
Show answer
Answer: 2. Touch each one once as you count: 1, 2. There are 2 apples!
2. How many flowers?
Tap each one to count it!
- 1
- 3
- 2
Show answer
Answer: 3. Touch each one once as you count: 1, 2, 3. There are 3 flowers!
3. How many shells?
Tap each one to count it!
- 1
- 4
- 3
Show answer
Answer: 3. Touch each one once as you count: 1, 2, 3. There are 3 shells!
Tips for grown-ups
- Count everyday things together: stairs, spoons, buttons, toy cars.
- Ask for a number of things: “Can you give me three blocks?”
- Line objects up in a row — it makes counting easier at first.