What is Number Sense?

Building Number Sense: The Foundation for Lifelong Maths Skills

Number sense is more than just counting—it’s a child’s ability to understand, relate to, and work with numbers in meaningful ways. Strong number sense in early childhood lays the foundation for future maths success, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

But how do we help our little ones build this essential skill? The answer lies in playful, hands-on experiences that make maths enjoyable and relatable. Here are five creative strategies to help nurture number sense, with a focus on play, art, movement, and parent-child bonding:

1. Focus on Numbers 1-10

Before exploring larger numbers, it’s essential to spend time mastering the basics: the numbers 1 through 10. These are the building blocks for all future maths concepts, so understanding them thoroughly ensures your child has a solid foundation to build on.

By offering plenty of opportunities to count and work with the numbers 1-10 in both fun and meaningful contexts, children develop a strong sense of number relationships that will serve them well when they encounter bigger numbers later on.

2. Use Concrete and Visual Approaches

Young children learn best when they can touch and manipulate objects, so it’s important to provide them with real, tangible items to count, add, or subtract. This concrete experience strengthens their understanding of abstract maths concepts.

For example, use everyday objects like toys, colored pencils, coins, or grapes for counting exercises. Children can practice adding or subtracting by moving these items around, helping them visualize maths in a way that feels natural and accessible. Additionally, using visual tools like ten-frames can help children organize numbers into groups of 5s and 10s, strengthening their number sense and preparing them for more complex maths operations in the future.

3. Strengthen Visualizing with Ten-Frames

Ten-frames are a powerful tool for helping children visualize numbers in groups of 5s and 10s. This visual approach lays the groundwork for mental maths and flexible thinking as children learn to break numbers into smaller, more manageable parts.

By practicing with ten-frames, children can develop a strong mental image of quantities, which makes it easier for them to perform addition, subtraction, and even understand place value as they progress in maths.

4. Engage in Maths Talk and Parent-Child Bonding During Daily Life

Maths is all around us, and everyday moments provide rich opportunities for learning. When you talk to your child about maths throughout the day, you help them see how numbers play a role in real-life situations. These shared moments are also a wonderful way to bond with your child, creating positive, meaningful experiences together.

Involve your child in simple maths conversations, like asking, “How many grapes do you want? Pick them!” or “Do you want to cut your sandwich into halves or quarters?” These types of interactions encourage your child to think about numbers and quantities in a practical, hands-on way, helping them see maths as a natural part of life.

Baking together, sorting laundry, or even comparing prices while grocery shopping are additional opportunities to engage in maths talk and work together on everyday tasks. These shared activities not only build number sense but also strengthen your relationship and make learning maths feel like a fun, collaborative effort.

5. Fun Maths Moments Through Stories, Play, and Art

Learning maths doesn’t have to be all about drills or worksheets—it can also be a fun, creative experience. Here are a few ways to incorporate maths through stories, play, and art:

Storytime Maths: Use your child’s favorite books to spark maths-related conversations. For example, ask questions like, “Who got the bigger bowl of cereal in this scene?” or “How many apples did the character pick?” This helps your child make connections between the numbers in the story and their own experiences.

Counting Games: Turn everyday play into a maths activity. Play games like hopscotch, where your child counts from 1-10 as they jump, or roll dice and have them recognize the number of dots without counting (this is called subitising). These games help reinforce number recognition and counting in a fun, active way.

Art & Craft Activities: Incorporate numbers into your child’s creative play. Use stickers to make patterns (e.g., 1 star, 2 hearts, 3 circles) and have your child predict what comes next in the sequence. You can also create number collages with cut-out shapes or numbers from magazines and discuss the quantities as you work together.

These playful and creative activities not only nurture your child’s number sense but also encourage bonding and make maths feel like an enjoyable, natural part of life.

Why Number Sense Matters

When children develop number sense early, they gain confidence and a positive attitude toward maths. This confidence leads to stronger problem-solving skills, a better understanding of maths concepts, and a greater ability to tackle more complex maths challenges as they grow.

By weaving maths into playful, creative, and everyday experiences, we help children see maths not as something to fear, but as a fun and exciting part of their world. Whether through counting games, art projects, or simple conversations, these early moments of learning form the bedrock of lifelong maths skills.

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Discover how our Stories and Play-based Resources can strengthen your child’s Number Sense here.