Number Path
Help Mathumo cross the stones by stepping on the numbers in order.
- Ages 4–6
- Number order to 20
- Reading numerals
Count and Tap
Count and Tap is one of our free counting games for preschoolers. Tap each bug once, then pick how many there are, from 5 up to 20.
Tap each one to count it.
🎉 You counted 8 groups!
How to play
Tap each bug once, then pick how many there are, from 5 up to 20.
- These counting games have three modes: To 5, To 10 or To 20. Pick one.
- Tap each object once. A number appears on it: 1, 2, 3, and a note plays for every count.
- If you tap one that already has a number, it just says so. Nothing is lost.
- When every object has a number, pick how many there are from the three choices.
- Count eight groups to finish the round. Then play again or try a bigger mode.
If the answer isn’t right, the numbers light up one by one so you can count along again. After two misses on a group, the right choice is outlined.
What children learn
- One-to-one counting: touching each object once, with one number word for each.
- Cardinality: knowing that the last number said tells how many there are in all.
- Numerals: matching a group to the written number, from 1 up to 20.
Guides for parents
Ideas for playing and talking about math away from the screen, related to Count and Tap.
Greater than less than: how to teach the symbols to kids
Greater than, less than and equal to start with comparing objects. Steps for teaching the > and < symbols, and what the alligator trick can and can't do.
How to teach a child to count: 6 steps for ages 3 to 5
Counting is more than saying numbers in order. Six steps with household objects that take a child from reciting to counting a group and saying how many.
Math board games for kids: what to play at ages 3 to 8
Math board games for kids, by age: race tracks, dominoes, sowing games, Shut the Box and dice games, plus how to make your own number track at home.
More games
Shape Pop
Pop the bubbles that hold the shape Mathumo asks for.
- Ages 3–6
- Naming 2-D shapes
- Sides and corners
Sudoku for Kids
Shape and number puzzles with one answer each.
- Ages 4–8
- Logical thinking
- Shapes and numbers 1 to 6
Questions about Count and Tap
What are good counting games for preschoolers?
Good counting games for preschoolers let a child touch each object once while saying one number word, with small groups first. Count and Tap works this way: tap each bug, hear its number, then pick how many there are. Counting stairs, grapes or socks at home does the same job.
How do you teach a preschooler to count objects?
Start with a few objects in a row and touch each one while saying one number word. Move each counted object aside, or count in the same order every time, so none is skipped or counted twice. Then ask “How many?” and help your child notice that the last number said is the answer.
Why does my child count the same object twice?
This is very common at ages 3 and 4. Children are still linking one touch to one number word. Counting in a line, moving counted objects aside, or tagging each one as it is counted helps. In this game every counted object gets a number badge, so a repeat is easy to see.
How high should a 4-year-old be able to count?
Many 4-year-olds can say the number words to 10 or beyond, but counting a group of objects is a separate skill, and most do it reliably for small groups first. Children grow at different rates, so use the To 5 mode first and move up when counting feels easy.
Why does the To 20 mode set objects in rows of five?
Rows of five give the eye a pattern to hold on to, so children can see where they stopped and keep track as the group gets bigger. Later, the same rows help children see 10 as two full rows.