Teach Your Toddler to Count with Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplay Games

Kids learn best when they are having fun and learning to count is no different. By using rhymes, songs, and fingerplay with a counting theme in your day to day interactions with your children, they will learn to count in no time at all.

Variations on Ten Little Indians

The song Ten Little Indians can be adapted to any item around your house. For example, it can be applied to snack time as you count out crackers onto a plate:

One little two little three little crackers,

Four little five little six little crackers,

Seven little eight little nine little crackers,

Ten little yummy crackers!

Five Little Ducks

Five Little Ducks is also a great counting song. You can buy a CD with the song on it or buy one of several books that illustrate the song.

Five little ducks went out one day, (Hold up 5 fingers)

Over the hills and far away, (Put hand behind back)

Mama duck said "quack, quack, quack, quack!" (Use other hand to imitate a duck quacking)

But only four little ducks came back. (Bring out hand with only four fingers up)

One, two, three, four. (Count each of the four fingers)

Subtract one duck until none of the five little ducks come back. Remember the last verse is happy!

Sad mama duck went out one day,

Over the hills and far away,

Mama duck said "quack, quack, quack, quack!"

And all of the five little ducks came back.

One, two, three, four, five!

High Five Fingerplay

My husband taught my son to count to five using his fingers with a fingerplay game that he made up. He would simply say,

One, two, three, four, five. High five!

Meanwhile, he would hold up one finger for one, two fingers for two, and so on, followed by an enthusiastic high five and a big cheer. After a while, our son would imitate his dad holding up one finger, then two fingers as my husband counted all the way to five fingers. When our son had one through five down, I added the next five numbers:

Six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Give me ten!

More Nursery Rhymes and Songs

Nursery rhymes help your child, who is naturally receptive to meter and rhyme, remember the order or numbers

One, two buckle my shoe

Three, four open the door

Five, six pick up sticks

Seven, eight lay them straight

Nine, ten begin again.