Books about counting are important because they introduce the language associated with numbers. They also help preschoolers begin to understand the concept that numbers are symbols for counting, just as letters are symbols for sounds and words!

Encouraging your child to count on their fingers, or touch the things they count as they count them, also helps kids learn to count with one-to-one correspondence (the basic math skill of keeping track of what we’ve counted by touching each thing we’re counting one time).

You can help your child notice how numbers help us live our lives by going on a number scavenger hunt in your home! Invite your child to write down or take pictures of numbers they find. The kitchen is a great place to start. Play different ways by looking for the same number as your age, the numbers from your address or phone number, or see who can find the largest number in the house! (Find a few examples below.)