Is your child learning how to count? This will be a great learning toy for him/her to practice 1 to 1 correspondence counting.
Wait a minute, what’s 1 to 1 correspondence counting?
At around 2 years old, you may start to hear your child counting or singing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or even to 20.
But is your child really counting?
Now try asking him/her to pick out 3 toys. Is he/she able to count and pick out 3 toys? Is he/she able to connect 3 physical items to the number 3?
Rote Counting VS 1 to 1 Correspondence Counting
The former is what we called rote counting, where young children are able to recite the number names in the right order. Rote counting is important. It is a prerequisite to the higher order mathematical skill, 1 to 1 correspondence counting.
But deep down, they do not understand what these numbers represent. They are not able to match the number name to the quantity of a group of things.
What’s next after Rote Counting?
Once your child is able to rote count reliably to 10, the next important mathematical skill to work on for older toddlers and preschoolers will be 1 to 1 correspondence counting, that is to touch one object at a time and as he/she says its number name.
They are making sense of numbers and giving physical meaning to each number, 4 means 4 items.
Ideas for practicing 1 to 1 correspondence counting at home
Give your child plenty of opportunities to practice 1 to 1 correspondence counting at home every day. Simple activities like picking up 3 toy cars, building a tower with 5 blocks or even eating 4 crackers will help in reinforcing this skill. Invite them to count along as they pick up each item to help them associate the number name to each item.
1 to 1 Correspondence Counting Toy
This Pouch Cap Flowers Counting Box is a wonderful 1 to 1 correspondence learning toy! I love putting a fun context around a learning activity. Children will love this idea of ‘growing their pouch cap flowers’ and they get to learn counting at the same time!
The child physically picks up one pouch cap and press it into each hole to make a ‘flower’. Invite the child to count the number of ‘pouch cap flowers’ in their ‘garden’ as they push in each pouch cap.
Related: Another cute counting activity for children – Monster Eyes Counting.
Fine motor activity for the young toddlers
For the young toddlers, they may not be developmentally ready for 1 to 1 correspondence counting but this is still a great fine motor activity for them. The adults can do the counting as they push in the pouch caps.
Related: More fine motor practice for young toddlers using Duplo blocks here.
What you need:
- A box
- 10 pouch caps
- Penknife
- Markers
Ready to make this in under 5 minutes?
- Draw the stems & leaves of 10 flowers on the box. Do not draw the flower part.
- Write 1 to 10 under each flower.
- Using a sharp penknife, slit a cross on where each flower should be.
- Press down the cross with your fingers.
Set this box together with 10 pouch caps and the learning activity is ready!
Will you make a Pouch Cap Flowers Counting Box?
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