Storytime: C is for Counting

by | Feb 12, 2025 | Blog, Kid's Corner, Story Time | 0 comments

One, two, three, count with me. It’s as easy as can be! Teaching numbers at an early age can be great fun! Here are some effective ways to introduce numbers to your child:

Everyday Activities

  • Count objects around the house (toys, fruits, steps).

  • Count fingers and toes while getting dressed.

  • Point out numbers on clocks, calendars, and phones.

Songs & Rhymes

  • Sing number songs like, “Here is the Beehive”, “Ten in the Bed”, or “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.”

  • Clap, jump, or stomp while counting aloud.

Manipulative or Hands-On Learning

  • Use building blocks or Legos to count.

  • Play with number puzzles or stacking rings.

  • Use stickers or stamps to make counting fun.

Sensory Activities

  • Write numbers in sand, shaving cream, or playdough.

  • Make number shapes with finger paints or chalk.

 

Join us Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.

Ages 2-5

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

The frequent use of counting in children’s songs and rhymes, in both a forward and backward direction, will contribute to a child’s basic math foundation, which will later help in math abstractions. ~ ”Rhymers are Readers” New York Association for the Education of Young Children 

 

 

 

 

Activity

Read a “counting” book with your child, then sing a counting rhyme together, and practice counting things in your home like food, stairs, or even socks using concept words like less than, more than, add, and subtract.

 

 

 

 

Books Presented

Book cover for Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

Pete the cat loves the buttons on his shirt so much that he makes up a song about them, and even as the buttons pop off, one by one, he still finds a reason to sing.
Book cover for Zero Zebras: A Counting Book About What's Not There by Bruce Goldstone

Zero Zebras: A Counting Book About What's Not There by Bruce Goldstone

Zero Zebras asks a bold question: can you count what isn’t there? Can you count… to zero? Bruce Goldstone takes us on a wild animal safari counting one wallaby, two tuna, three thrushes, four frogs… but absolutely ZERO zebras. Readers will realize the infinite possibilities of counting what is and isn’t on the page. Goldstone’s imaginative and creative text is brought to life by Chung’s vibrant illustrations which include hidden numbers beautifully integrated into each stunning scene for fun some hide-and-seek. This is the perfect introduction to the concept of zero and infinity, showcasing the profound wonder of numbers in a playful, dazzling picture book that will wow readers of every age!
Book cover for How to Count to One: (And Don't even THINK About Bigger Numbers!) by Caspar Salmon

How to Count to One: (And Don't Even THINK About Bigger Numbers!) by Caspar Salmon

Get ready to show off your skills in this fun new counting book! But not everything is as it seems . . . is this book really only about counting to “ONE?” Because there are SO MANY fun things that you could count. But wait –maybe there’s a way to outsmart the book . . . and count all the way up to 100!
Book cover for Let's Count Goats! by Mem Fox

Let's Count Goats! by Mem Fox

The reader is invited to count goats of many shapes, sizes, hobbies, and professions.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Ten Little Bubbles

One little, two little, three little bubbles;
Four little, five little, six little bubbles;
Seven little, eight little, nine little bubbles;
Ten little bubbles to POP! 

Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop those bubbles;
Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop those bubbles;
Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop those bubbles;
All the little bubbles go POP! 

Source: Adventures in Storytime

Jumping and Counting

Jump Jump Jump Jump
Jumping high are we.
But we’ll stop jumping
While we count to three.

Jump Jump Jump Jump
Jumping even more.
But we’ll stop jumping
While we count to four.

Jump Jump Jump Jump
Just like pogo sticks.
But let’s stop jumping
While we count to six.

Jump Jump Jump Jump
Jumping then we wait.
We stop our jumping
While we count to eight.

Jump Jump Jump Jump
Jumping once again.
But we’ll be finished
Once we count to ten.

Source: Jim Gill

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom, 
We’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip, 
Climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom! We’re going to the moon!

Far, far far, We’re going to the stars…

Fun, fun, fun, We’re going to the sun…

Source: The Kiboomers

Here is the Beehive

Here is the beehive
But where are all the bees?
Hiding away where nobody sees.
Here they come flying out of their hive.
One, two, three, four, five!

Here is the beehive.
But where are all the bees?
Hiding away where nobody sees.
Here they come flying out of their hive.
One, two, three, four, five!

Buzz up high. Buzz down low.
Buzzing fast. Buzzing slow.
Buzz to the left. Buzz to the right.
Buzz all day but sleep at night.

Here is the beehive.
But where are all the bees?
Hiding away where nobody sees.
Here they come flying out of their hive.
One, two, three, four, five!

Source: Super Simple

Crafts and Activities

Coloring page counting up to ten.

Counting Coloring page

 

 

Craft a homemade picture and counting book.

Homemade Picture and Counting Book

Additional Books

Book cover for One Boy by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

One Boy by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

A boy creates ten paintings in this counting book that also explores the relationship of words within words. Features die-cut pages.

Book cover for Click, Clack, Splish, Splash: A Counting Adventure by Doreen Cronin

Click, Clack, Splish, Splash: A Counting Adventure by Doreen Cronin

While Farmer Brown sleeps, some of the animals who live on the farm go on a fishing expedition.
Book cover for I Can Only Draw Worms by Will Mabbit

I Can Only Draw Worms by Will Mabbitt

Teaches the reader to count to ten using worms that have great adventures or everyday experiences, described but not illustrated due to the author/illustrator’s inability to draw anything but worms.

Book cover for One Sweet Song by Jyoti Rajan Gopal

One Sweet Song by Jyoti Rajan Gopal

With a countdown from one to ten and back woven in, this celebration of music and community brings to life a shared moment in a diverse neighborhood where everyone comes together to make one sweet song

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