What is counting? | Oxford Owl?

Counting is when we use numbers to tell how many things there are.

Imagine you have a basket full of apples. You want to know how many apples are inside. So you start saying one, two, three, each time pointing at an apple. When you finish, the last number you said tells you how many apples there were in total. That’s counting!

Counting needs a few things:

• A starting point, like one
• A way to say the next number, just like when you count your fingers
• A finish line, which is the last number you say

You can count anything that’s separate, like toys, cookies, or even steps on the stairs. Just remember: each time you say a number, it's for one thing.

If you're counting with a friend, you could take turns, you say one, they say two, and so on. That way, you both get to practice counting together!

Counting is like having a special tool that helps you know how many things there are, just by saying numbers out loud.