Block count up is exactly what it sounds like.
Here, we are literally using blocks to count up the number line. Block count up is simple and effective.
Sometimes we rush through numbers one-ten and insist that our preschoolers count higher and faster.
But why do we do that? Why do we feel the pressure to get our children to count higher without diving deep into forming and breaking apart numbers one-ten? Let’s put on the breaks and take a close look at counting up.
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What my preschooler is looking at is a number line.
This number line helps my preschooler visualize number amounts.
Counting is memorizing. – But touching each object as it gets counted is understanding quantity.
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Why is counting important for preschoolers?
There is a difference between counting and understanding what the numbers stand for.
Counting is one of the first math concepts to master. You will notice that your preschooler can count reasonably early on and that counting has to do with memorization.
What we want to build up is the understanding of quantity. Quantity is the concept of understanding how many.
Concepts to introduce to our preschoolers are
- More than
- Bigger than
- Less than
- Same as
This counting activity is allowing my four-year-old to move the objects as he counts. Stacking the blocks allows your preschooler to touch the objects as he counts and adds one more.
This practice is a powerful way to understand the concept of quantity better than rushing them along to 20.
You can never practice quantity enough with your preschooler.
Setting up is simple.
I made one horizontal line using masking tape. Next, I added small pieces of paper with numbers. You can also write directly on the tape. I shared with my four-year-old that this is a number line.
Finally, I invited my preschooler to stack the blocks next to each number beginning with one. He slowly worked his way up the number line by adding one more block for each number.
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How to play Block Count Up
Begin at number one. Place one block for the number one. Place two blocks for number two.
Show your preschooler how there is one more block added to make two.
If your preschooler is catching on, keep going! If your preschooler becomes frustrated, put the math activity on pause. You can always come back to it when your preschooler is ready.
We are looking to expose your preschooler to fundamental math concepts and build a little each day. Be patient! They are learning, and when it is ready to click, it will.
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These small colored wood craft cubes will also help strengthen small hand muscles and prepare for pencil grip when ready to write.
- Colored cubes – option one
- Unifix cubes – option two
- Masking tape