16mo–2.2y10 minFamily timeMealtimeFree play
Choice & Count: How Many?
A practical counting routine for 16–26 months where you talks about your child's choices (snack/toys) and demonstrates how counting helps us find out ‘how many’ with tiny quantities (1–3).
What you'll need
Essentials
- 6–10 small everyday items (snack pieces, blocks, socks, toy cars)
- two small bowls/containers
Nice to have
- a spoon for moving items
- paper and a crayon (for optional ‘dot marks’)
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
- MilestoneFollows visually supported instructionsMind· 8mo–18mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneUnderstands simple questionsMind· 14mo–2.2y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneExpresses own preferences and interests.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneDemonstrates sense of self as an individual, e.g. wants to do things independently, says “No” to adult.Heart· 16mo–2.2y· stretch· Step 1
What it practices
- Selects a small number of objects from a group when asked, for example, ‘please give me one’, ‘please give me two’.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Recites some number names in sequence.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Begins to make comparisons between quantities.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses some language of quantities, such as ‘more’ and ‘a lot’.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Talk about young children’s choices and, where appropriate, demonstrate how counting helps us to find out how many.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)