Numbers and Shapes
Parent works through four readiness checks at 54-66mo: deep number understanding to 10, verbal counting patterns beyond 20, copying a diamond shape, and carrying out three-step sequential commands. Covers four cognitive and fine motor milestones.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Tabletop space. Pencil and paper. Up to 10 small countable objects nearby.
How it works
- 1~90s
Place between 3 and 10 objects in front of your child — say 7 blocks. Ask: 'How many are there?' After they counts, move 2 aside and ask: 'I moved 2 — how many are left?' Then ask: 'Which group has more — 7 or 4?' Watch for subitising (knowing small sets without counting), accurate counting with one-to-one correspondence, and simple reasoning about quantity. Tell me what you observe.
Watch for: Child has deep understanding of number to 10
- 2~60s
Ask your child to count out loud starting from 1, as high as they can go. Don't prompt — just listen. Does they get past 20? Does they use the decade pattern correctly — 21, 22… 29, 30? Does they say 'twenty-ten' or 'thirty-twenty-one'? Count alongside if they gets stuck to see whether the pattern is there with a prompt. Tell me where they gets to and what errors occur.
Watch for: Child verbally counts beyond 20 recognising decade pattern
- 3~60s
Draw a diamond shape clearly on one side of the paper — four equal sides, pointed top and bottom. Show your child and say: 'Can you draw one that looks like mine?' Give your child the pencil. Don't guide the hand — just watch. Does they produce four sides? Are the diagonals at roughly the right angle? Does they close the shape? Tell me what your child's drawing looks like.
Watch for: Child copies a diamond shape
- 4~60s
Give your child three instructions in sequence, then wait 10 seconds before saying 'go'. Try: 'Clap your hands, then touch your nose, then sit down — wait… go!' Or: 'Pick up the pencil, put it on the table, then come stand next to me — wait… go!' Do NOT repeat the instructions. Does your child do all three steps? The right steps? In the right order? Tell me what happens.
Watch for: Child carries out three-step sequential commands with memory delay