Activity 9: Finding mistakes as you count aloud
Materials:
None
Try It Out:
- Tell your child that you’re going to play a counting game in which you count and she listens carefully to find mistakes.
- Say, “Ready? Listen to me count: 1, 2, 4. Was that right?”
- Help your child understand that you made a mistake. Say, “Noooo, that’s not right! I made a mistake. Let’s count together and do it right this time: 1, 2, 3.”
- Try this game again making other counting mistakes. Each time, ask your child if you counted correctly. Ask her to count with you to correct your mistake.
Making the Most of This Activity:
Make the activity more challenging by counting to a higher number, or by making a mistake at the beginning or end of the counting pattern instead of in the middle. Review your mistakes by counting correctly with your child.
Reflect:
Could your child find the mistakes in your counting? If not, keep trying this activity during everyday activities to count groups of objects. Your child will develop this math skill with time and practice.
