Learning to count is a fundamental skill that children develop through various activities tailored to their unique learning styles. By incorporating methods that align with different multiple intelligences, children can engage more effectively and enjoyably in the process of learning numbers. This approach not only enhances their counting abilities but also fosters a love for learning.

At first, I found it easier to learn start by mastering counting from 1 to 5 before progressing to 1 to 10, then 1 to 20, and eventually up to 1 to 100. Learning to count in Mandarin alongside English can provide a clearer understanding due to the logical sequence in Mandarin numbers.

The Best Way to Learn To Count Through Each Multiple Intelligence:

Linguistic:

Books – Interactive Reading: While reading any book, we like to count how many balls, birds, any object in the picture on the page. (This can start out as young as when they are a baby.) There are counting books that are just for certain numbers, or have a rhyme/song to the numbers, or just any book with pictures and you can count the objects.

Bodily-Kinesthetic:

TWISTER: Put numbers scattered on different circles. Say a number and they have to go stand on it.

Logical-Mathematical:

Dot to Dot:  Purchase or create dot to dot activities with numbers 1-10, 1-20, or 1-30 for counting practice. You can create your own, or use mine, or Melissa & Doug has some. I think Duck Duck Moose: Moose Math and Khan Academy Kids have some dot to dot (and they do skip counting for later on). Or most of the time, I just made my own. I got out a whiteboard, picked a target number (30), and drew 30 dots in a swirl, shape, or anything, then numbered the dots, and they connected them.

Naturalistic: 

Outside: Go on a walk and count all the trees, flowers, cars, buildings, etc. You can do this while driving as well. Make piles of leaves and compare to a pile of flowers to see which has more and which has less. Use twigs to show <, >, and = comparisons. Encourage counting everywhere. Engage in a leaf-stick activity where kids collect a specified number of leaves or sticks based on a called-out number. Draw the numbers in the dirt.

Visual-Spatial:

Manipulatives: Teach counting methods such as using fingers, number lines, tens frames, objects/toys, matching numbers to objects, 100’s chart, cards, dice, base ten blocks/rods, or Duplo/Legos (use the base ten blocks or Duplo to make a tower of ten then continue counting making a new tower of ten), 100, 10’s, 1’s coins, Monopoly money/Fake money, dominoes, number tiles, beads (make your own Montessori beads), make your own scale, number puzzles, and graphing the amount you’ve counted of each color or object.

Intrapersonal:

Recommended Apps: Khan Academy Kids, Duck Duck Moose: Park Math App they have a part where you can count while they swing.

Interpersonal:

Monopoly Junior: Encourages counting through money management, dice rolling, and interacting with partners. A great introductory board game that is enjoyed by many. I have them count out their money. Then they have to roll the dice to go around the board, give money to their partners.

Musical:

Music: Also, while driving or when playing music, I would play Jack Hartmann counting 1-20 or counting 1-100. You can even explore songs in different languages if you are teaching your baby multiple languages. YouTube offers a variety of excellent counting songs in English and other languages.

In conclusion, practicing counting through diverse methods that cater to different multiple intelligences can significantly enhance a child’s learning experience. Whether it’s through interactive reading, physical games like TWISTER, logical activities such as dot to dot, or exploring the natural world, each approach offers unique benefits. By embracing these varied strategies, children can develop a strong foundation in counting while also nurturing their individual strengths and interests.

Introduction to Numbers Pack

Monkey Game

1-10 Number Sense Matching Game

1-10 Number Sense Matching Game