What is this skill?
Once children can count small groups, the next step is groups of up to 20 objects. The rules are the same, one number for each object and the last number tells how many, but larger groups are harder to keep track of, and the counting words between 11 and 20 are less predictable than 1 to 10.
Kindergartners also start to discover that organizing objects makes counting easier. Lining them up in rows, or arranging them in rows of five or ten, gives the eye a structure to follow. Seeing 15 as three rows of five is an early step toward thinking in groups rather than ones.
Why it matters
Counting larger groups accurately is the base for teen numbers, adding within 20 in first grade and later place value. The habit of organizing objects before counting them is especially valuable: it is the same idea that makes tens and ones, skip counting and multiplication work.
This skill also builds persistence and care. Counting 18 scattered objects means keeping a plan in your head for longer, which is real mental work for a five- or six-year-old. Children who learn to slow down and organize before they count are practicing a habit that pays off in every later math topic.
Common mistakes
- Losing track partway through a large scattered group, then double counting or skipping. Encourage your child to line objects up or move each one as it is counted.
- Saying the teen numbers out of order, often skipping 15 or swapping 13 and 14. Practice saying 10 to 20 slowly on its own, separate from counting objects.
- Getting a different total each time the same group is counted and not noticing. Counting twice and comparing is a good habit to teach: "If we got 16 and then 17, one of them is wrong. Let's check."
How to help at home
- Count a handful of building bricks or pasta pieces. First count the messy pile, then line them up and count again. Ask which was easier and why.
- Use egg cartons or muffin tins, which have ready-made rows. Fill them with small toys and count by rows: five in this row, five more is ten, and so on.
- When your child finishes counting, ask them to show you how they kept track. Explaining a strategy helps them choose a good one next time.
- Keep it light and short. Two or three counts of 12-20 objects a day is plenty; accuracy matters more than speed.
Worked examples
These are real questions from the Tutorsaurus counting to 20 practice, with the answers worked out.
Example 1
How many 🥕 are there?
Choices: 11, 2, 15, 12
Answer: 12. There are 12. Counting by rows of 5 or 10 makes it faster.
Example 2
How many 🌸 are there?
Choices: 17, 15, 12, 14
Answer: 14. There are 14. Counting by rows of 5 or 10 makes it faster.
Example 3
How many 🍕 are there?
Choices: 17, 10, 19, 20
Answer: 20. There are 20. Counting by rows of 5 or 10 makes it faster.