You might be surprised to learn that your little one started learning math… before he could even talk.
Yes, yes, those same little ones who confuse “meow” and “woof” are already secretly mastering the basics of counting at the age of one and a half years!
While you are touched by the way a child pokes his finger at the apples on a plate, he is not just playing - he is analyzing the quantity.
Scientists have proven that at 1.5 years old, children already notice if an adult “accidentally” left out a cookie or took an extra toy. Their brain registers an imbalance, and their emotions express indignation — the kids frown, stamp their feet, or point to the “missing” item. This is the first step to mathematics!
Don't miss the moment: start counting out loud the steps, the spoons in the glass, the birds on the branch. But don't ask for repetitions - just turn the numbers into the background of their world.
Contrary to stereotypes, a one-and-a-half-year-old child is ready to count... if you don’t teach, but play.
Hide 2 cubes under a scarf, then take one out - the kid will notice the trick! Draw circles with chalk and cross them out with a funny "Bam!". Collect pyramids, stringing rings with a counting chorus: "One ring, two rings!" The main thing is no numbers or rules. Your goal is to make it clear: numbers are fun, not scary.
If you still believed that counting starts at school, we have bad news: by age 3, a child’s brain craves systemicity. Now, it doesn’t just feel “a lot” or “a little” — it’s ready to associate a number with a symbol.
Show numbers on apartment doors, car numbers, price tags. But don’t cram! Ask: “Why do you think this number is called ‘three’? Look – it looks like a bird with a beak!” The optimal age for the first serious tasks is 4–5 years old, when children begin to correct their mistakes. For example, if the child counted 4 dolls instead of 5, say: “Oh, it seems one ran under the sofa!” – this will cause excitement, not stress.
Perfectionist parents, stop! Don't force your three-year-old to write numbers, don't make fun of him if he mixes up "nine" and "six," and never say, "You're falling behind!"
So when should you start teaching your child to count? Yesterday. Today. And tomorrow. But not through pressure, but through surprise.
Because math is not a subject in a diary, but a language that the universe speaks. And your baby will speak it… if you don’t interfere.
Author: Elena Shimanovskaya