It seems like the most natural thing to count, but modern preschooler's experiences have changed. They can go for days without see in coins or cash. Shopping is often done more efficiently by one working parent on the way home from a long day at work. Parents can prime the pump. Even though we have ten fingers in front of us to count all of the time always work that way, it isn’t always enough. The New Zealand Numeracy Project has looked closely at how children conceptualized; organize in their brains, numbers. It turns out that preschoolers conserve in fives or one hand. Ten would be two hands or two rows of five. One check quick is when your child independently knows that she has five fingers on each hand, you have five fingers on each hand and everyone - essentially - have five fingers on their hand.
Parents use their special powers to prime the pump for counting in the natural environment. There are loads of daily routines that require counting up to five or in groups of five present themselves everyday. Counting or putting napkins on the table gives an opportunity for counting with one to one correspondence - napkins to people. Shopping for produce gives rich experiences of counting fruit for the shopping bag. Whether your child is counting, be sure to check with a Buddy Recount - two opportunities to count. Please organize the items to be counted as described in Clever Constructs. Parents can model by moving each item and elongate pronouncing the number with one to one correspondence in a light-hearted manner. You'll know that your child is really making progress, when she spontaneously reports, "I have two trucks." Or he says, "I have more blocks than you."
Parent Power: Parents are the first teachers of their beloved children. Take alternate turns for you to count. Nothing is a motivating for a preschool as watching to see if you get it right, except having all of your attention on her while she counts. Take time to make counting part of the everyday fun for both of you. Smile and approach it playfully and you'll give your child the biggest gift of all, relaxed time with you. Remember you preschooler's work is accomplished best through discovery and play. Silly faces and laughing are required. (On A More Serious Note: A deep understanding of numeracy is a prerequisite of Calculus and all Higher Maths, so spend the time you spend planning for Harvard counting everyday. It is all part of the same whole.)
Clever Constructs: It is hard to slow down and be playful, but it makes the count accurate and fun. Think about using humor and suspense to entice your child to join in brief frequent opportunities to count in the natural environment.

Materials: Color Tiles or other blocks you already have at home are wonderful for organizing counting for preschooler. When counting abstract things in two dimensions, like figures in a book put a block on the head or top of each item. Starting at the left hand side at the top, count moving a block off as each item is counted. This gives a motor component to the counting and memory. The blocks give concrete or real things to count. You are teaching a strategy to organize and count so nothing is skipped or double counted. The counting task is also oriented the same way you child will later read.
Research Connection: http://nzmaths.co.nz/what-numeracy-projectot
Photo Source: http://www.assessmentservices-edu.com/counting.aspx
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