Counting and Adding Small Numbers

Have you ever counted your toys or the steps to your front door? Counting is one of the most magical things we can do with numbers! When we count, we say one number for each object we touch or see, all the way until we reach the last one.

Adding means putting two groups together to find out how many there are in total. Imagine you have 2 red apples and 3 green apples. If you put them all in one bowl, how many apples do you have? You count them all together: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5! That is adding!

Here is another example: You have 4 little stars stickers and your friend gives you 1 more. Now you have 4 + 1 = 5 stars. Adding 1 always gives you the very next number — pretty cool, right?

Remember, it is perfectly fine to use your fingers to help you count and add. Everyone starts that way, and you are doing a wonderful job just by trying!