Count and Tap
Tap each bug once to count it, then say how many.
- Ages 3–6
- Counting to 20
- One-to-one counting
Number Path
Number Path is one of our free number line games for ages 4 to 6. Step on the stones in number order to help Mathumo across, counting forward or back to 20.
Step on 1 to start.
🎉 Mathumo crossed the pond 3 times!
How to play
Step on the stones in number order to help Mathumo across, counting forward or back to 20.
- These number line games have three modes: 1 to 10, 1 to 20 or Back from 10. Pick one.
- Find the first number on the pond and tap its stone. Mathumo hops there.
- Tap the next number, and the next. A dotted trail shows where Mathumo has been.
- If you tap the wrong stone, it wobbles and says which number you tapped. After two tries, the right stone glows.
- Cross the pond three times to finish. Then play again or change the mode.
Stuck? Look at the number Mathumo asks for, then scan the pond for it. The trail only grows when you pick the right stone.
What children learn
- Reading numerals: finding written numbers from 1 to 20 among others.
- Number order: knowing which number comes next, and which comes before.
- Counting back: saying the numbers in reverse from 10 to 1.
Guides for parents
Ideas for playing and talking about math away from the screen, related to Number Path.
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.
More games
Shape Pop
Pop the bubbles that hold the shape Mathumo asks for.
- Ages 3–6
- Naming 2-D shapes
- Sides and corners
Questions about Number Path
What are good number line games for kids?
Good number line games ask children to find numbers in order along a line and to move along it, forward and back. In Number Path, Mathumo hops along a trail of stones, so a child practices which number comes next and which comes before. A paper number line on the floor, with a jump for each number, works too.
When do children learn to recognize numbers?
Many children start to recognize some written numbers between ages 3 and 5, usually 1 to 10 first. Teen numbers such as 13 and 17 take longer, because the digits are read in an order that does not match how we say them. Short, regular practice with numbers in everyday life helps.
Why do children mix up 6 and 9, or 12 and 21?
Digits such as 6 and 9 look alike when turned, and children are still learning that direction matters in numerals. Numbers like 12 and 21 use the same digits in a different order. Both are normal at this age and fade with practice. Talk about what each number looks like: 6 has its loop at the bottom.
Why practice counting backwards?
Counting back builds an understanding of the number line in both directions and is the start of subtraction. Children often find it harder than counting up, so start from 5 or 10 and go slowly.
What if my child only knows numbers to 10?
Start with the 1 to 10 mode. It builds confidence with the numbers your child already knows. Move to 1 to 20 when finding the next stone feels easy.