3.3y–5y12 minFamily timeOutdoorDevelopmental play
Beyond Ten Spot & Count
A quick ‘count what you see’ challenge that nudges your child past ten using touching/moving strategies, teen numbers, estimating, and simple more/fewer comparisons.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 15–25 small everyday items (spoons, socks, blocks, pasta pieces, pegs, toy cars)
- two bowls/containers (or two areas on the table/floor)
Nice to have
- paper and a pencil (for a quick tally or numeral)
- a phone timer (to keep it playful and short)
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneCounts objects one-to-oneMind· 4y–4.5y· core
- MilestoneReports the counted totalMind· 4.3y–5y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneRecognises written numeralsMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneReceptive opposite understandingMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 3
- Milestonecounts up to 5Mind· 2.5y–3.3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneWrites numerals with supportMind· 4.5y–5y· stretch· Step 4
What it practices
- Counts an irregular arrangement of up to ten objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Estimates how many objects they can see and checks by counting them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses the language of ‘more’ and ‘fewer’ to compare two sets of objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Selects the correct numeral to represent 1 to 5, then 1 to 10 objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Encourage children to count the things they see and talk about and use numbers beyond ten”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)