Counting and Sequencing for Very Young Children - and Not So Young

As a primary teacher (ages 7-11), I've found that invariably the most confident and able of my young mathematicians are those who have a good understanding of pattern and sequencing of numbers. This allows them to master their number bonds and times tables more quickly - the foundation on which to build.

In School many hours are devoted to the learning of number patterns, but how can parents support and aid this learning inside and outside the home, and perhaps also give their children a head start?

In principle the answer is easy - knowing which sequences are important, looking for opportunities to practise with your child - and making this a habit!

If you put your mind to it, there are endless opportunities, but perhaps the most useful are in conjunction with walking, counting each step. So teaching your little one in earnest can begin as they make their first steps!! But also hopefully continue into their school years. Climbing the stairs at home, walking from the car to the front door, steps in the shopping mall, underpass, walking the length of the supermarket aisle, garden, etc, etc.

I must stress here that although your 18 month old child may be able to count perfectly to 20 or beyond! they are most unlikely to be understanding the whole concept of number. But it is this repetition and memory of sequences that will enter their sub-conscious - to be understood at later stages of their development.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7.......Don't stop there!
The first sequence to be mastered is counting in ones; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
and just about every parent in the world does this. But don't stop there! You will usually be the best judge, so when you feel the time is right, encourage and help your child to;

Count in steps of two; 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, (reinforce even numbers and 2x tables)
Count in steps of ten; 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, (important to pass the 100 point)
Count in steps of five; 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, (has a nice rhyming feel to it)
Count in steps of two to recognise odd numbers; 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, etc

As your child gets older, help to recognise patterns in the various times tables by counting on in different jumps; three, four, six, seven, eight, etc. Whenever possible, keep the sequences going to pass the 100 point.
Challenge! On longer walks - can they continue the sequence past 1000?

It's also very beneficial to count backwards down to zero from a particular point in these sequences.

Other important sequences could include.....
Square numbers; 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144
Prime numbers; 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, etc
Triangular numbers; 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, 55, 66, etc
Fraction sequences; zero, half, one, one and a half, two, etc
zero, one third, two thirds, two, two and one third, etc
Decimal sequences; 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, etc
0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, etc

Have fun!