Counting numbers and objects isn’t a simple skill for a child to learn. Counting involves enumerating units so that they arrive at a total number units. It also involves giving stable, consistent meaning to each conventional counting word.
Insight into a preschoolers’ logical thinking has been a topic of research. Children’s cognitive tasks your child will encounter in his play involve counting and adding simple sums.
When counting several objects sitting on the floor a child may skip one of the objects; this is normal. The teacher or parent can help by touching the items as the child is counting to make sure he includes every object.
Sometimes a child will fail to match their numerical recitation to the objects they are counting such as when playing board games. They will begin moving their playing piece down the board at a different rate then they are counting.
Another common mistake a child will make when learning to count is using his words in a non-standard order such as “one, two, three, six, eight, ten”. When they use one non-standard sequence one time and a completely different one the next time, they are not really counting.
To help child learn that numbers are in a certain order and adding a sum of objects must be counted in the correct order, wooden puzzles for kids are useful for teaching this skill. Number puzzles that must be assembled in numeric order will show them how to acquire this skill.
For instance, look at this 3d wooden puzzle. It is a number puzzle that can only be assembled in order of 1-10. Each bunny has its own number and can be played with as a separate toy. But to assemble the puzzle it must be done in numeric order.
Educational toys such as wooden puzzles will help impress on a child that numbers have an order that must be followed in order to count correctly and can help them learn to include each and every piece.
Most 2 year olds start to count a group of objects and will miss some of the objects right away. By four years of age most children will be able to count about five objects accurately before they begin making errors. Twenty objects will be counted correctly by the age of 5 only if the objects are not in disarray.
Therefore it is important to have several puzzles of varying difficulty levels as they are learning to recognize their numbers and counting objects. Until a child grasps the idea that 1 is included in 2, 2 included in 3 and so on they will not be likely to be careful about counting each separate object only one time.
The bunny counting puzzle shown above measures 14″ x 4″ – large size that kids can easily handle. It is one inch thick and stands up by itself. Give this toy to a child 3 years and up. See our other counting and alphabet puzzles on our website by clicking on the link in this article.