# How to Teach Kids About Counting in 2s, 5s & 10s > Skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s builds the foundation for multiplication, time, and money. Here are fun, practical ways to teach it at home or in class. Source: https://holidayeducationist.com/en/blogs/how-to-teach-kids-about-counting-in-2s-5s-and-10s --- ## Why Skip Counting Is a Big Deal for Young Learners ![child counting fingers](https://hebe.b-cdn.net/pexels_photo_4172985_6182635f8f.jpg) Before children can multiply, understand patterns, or work with money, they need a solid grasp of skip counting — the ability to count by 2s, 5s, and 10s rather than plodding through every single number. It sounds simple, but this skill quietly underpins a huge chunk of early mathematics. When a child can count by 10s to reach 100, they are not just reciting numbers — they are building an intuitive sense of how our number system works. They start to see that numbers have rhythm and structure, which makes later concepts like multiplication and place value feel far less mysterious. The good news is that skip counting is one of those topics that lends itself beautifully to games, songs, and everyday moments. You do not need worksheets and a whiteboard to make it stick. --- ## When Should Kids Start Learning Skip Counting? ![preschooler counting blocks on table](https://hebe.b-cdn.net/pexels_photo_12585860_5b5bb83aa7.jpg) Most children are ready to begin exploring skip counting somewhere between ages 4 and 6, though every child moves at their own pace. Here is a rough guide: - **Ages 4–5:** Start with counting by 10s. Ten is the easiest because children already hear it in everyday life ("there are 10 fingers!") and it follows a very obvious pattern. - **Ages 5–6:** Introduce counting by 2s. Pairs are everywhere — shoes, socks, eyes, ears — so the concept connects naturally to the real world. - **Ages 6–7:** Add counting by 5s. This one clicks especially well once children start learning to tell time or handle coins. Do not rush through these stages. A child who genuinely owns counting by 10s will pick up 5s and 2s much more quickly than one who has simply memorised a chant without understanding it. If your child is already comfortable with basic counting, you might find our post on [How to Teach Kids to Skip Count (Fun & Easy Ways)](/en/blogs/how-to-teach-kids-to-skip-counting) a useful companion read — it covers the broader skill in detail. --- ## Fun Ways to Teach Counting by 10s ![child stacking cups ten each](https://hebe.b-cdn.net/pexels_photo_5215553_3dc6dc1d60.jpg) ### Start With Their Fingers and Toes Ten fingers and ten toes are the most portable manipulatives in existence. Have your child hold up all ten fingers, count them together, then fold them down and say "ten." Add another imaginary set and count to twenty. This physical, embodied experience makes the abstract idea of "groups of ten" very concrete. ### Use Stacking Cups or Blocks Group small objects — building blocks, dried pasta pieces, or coins — into sets of ten. Count each set together: "10, 20, 30…" Once children can see the groups, the pattern becomes obvious rather than arbitrary. ### Sing It A simple chant sung to any bouncy tune works wonders: *"10, 20, 30, 40, 50 — halfway there! 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 — count with care!"* Repetition through song embeds the sequence in long-term memory far faster than drilling alone. ### Connect It to Money If your child is old enough to handle coins, ten-pence or ten-cent pieces are perfect. Count them out together as you drop them into a jar. The satisfying clink and the visual pile reinforce each step. --- ## Fun Ways to Teach Counting by 2s ![child sorting pairs of socks](https://hebe.b-cdn.net/pexels_photo_10557476_6bea99cef7.jpg) ### Pair Up Everyday Objects Sorting laundry is a surprisingly effective maths lesson. Ask your child to match socks into pairs, then count them by 2s: "2, 4, 6, 8…" The same works with shoes lined up by the door or crayons grouped in twos. ### Hopscotch With a Twist Draw a hopscotch grid numbered 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and so on. As your child hops on each square, they call out the number. Movement and maths together create a memorable experience — and it gets everyone outside. ### Clap and Count Clap twice, say "2." Clap twice again, say "4." Keep going. You can vary the rhythm — stamp, clap, snap — to keep it engaging. Children who are energetic learners especially love this kind of activity. ### Odd-One-Out Sorting Give your child a pile of small objects. Ask them to group everything into pairs. Whatever is left over is the "odd one out." This naturally introduces the idea of even and odd numbers while reinforcing counting by 2s. For more on that concept, see [How to Teach Kids About Verifying Numbers (Odd & Even)](/en/blogs/how-to-teach-kids-about-odd-and-even-numbers). --- ## Fun Ways to Teach Counting by 5s ![child counting tally marks on paper](https://hebe.b-cdn.net/pexels_photo_8613095_085201b8c5.jpg) ### The Hand High-Five Method Each hand has five fingers. Every time your child gives a "high five," that is five more. Count the high-fives: one high-five equals 5, two equals 10, three equals 15. It is silly and memorable — exactly what you want. ### Tally Marks Tally marks are a natural fit for counting by 5s because every bundle of four strokes gets a diagonal fifth line through it. Have your child tally up items around the house — books on a shelf, toy cars, stuffed animals — then count the bundles by 5s. This also quietly teaches data recording, which is a useful early maths skill. ### Nickel Counting If you use five-cent or five-pence coins, line them up and count by 5s as you add each one. By the time your child reaches 50 or 100, they have had a real-world maths lesson and a head start on understanding money. ### The Clock Connection The minute hand on an analogue clock moves in jumps of five. Once your child starts learning to tell time, point out the 5-minute intervals: "The hand is on the 3, so that is 15 minutes." Counting by 5s suddenly has a practical, daily purpose. --- ## Games and Activities That Tie It All Together ![kids playing number board game](https://hebe.b-cdn.net/pexels_photo_8535144_59eb853799.jpg) Once your child has some familiarity with each sequence, mixing them together deepens understanding and keeps things fresh. ### Number Grid Colouring Print or draw a 1–100 number grid. Ask your child to colour multiples of 10 in blue, multiples of 5 in yellow, and multiples of 2 in green. Where colours overlap, they mix — and your child gets a visual map of how these sequences relate to each other. It is also a great moment to ask: "Why are all the 10s also 5s?" ### Skip Count Relay If you have more than one child (or willing adults), stand in a circle. One person starts: "2." The next says: "4." Keep going until someone makes a mistake — then switch to counting by 5s or 10s. The gentle competitive element keeps everyone alert. ### Digital Practice Apps can be a helpful supplement, especially for children who enjoy interactive, self-paced practice. The [Grocery Expert](/en/apps/grocery-expert-grocery-game-that-teaches-counting) app, for example, works on object recognition and counting in a playful shopping context that naturally reinforces grouping and number sense. Similarly, [123 for Kids](/en/apps/123-for-kids) uses spaced repetition to help number patterns settle into long-term memory — a good quiet-time option after a busy day of hands-on activities. ### Spot It in Real Life Make skip counting a habit rather than a lesson. At the supermarket, count items by 2s as you put them in the trolley. On a walk, count lamp posts by 5s. In the car, count telegraph poles by 10s. These micro-moments accumulate into genuine fluency. --- ## Practical Takeaways for Parents and Educators ![parent and child doing homework together](https://hebe.b-cdn.net/pexels_photo_9240630_42fb0a1d95.jpg) Here is a quick summary of what works best when teaching skip counting: - **Start with 10s, then 2s, then 5s.** This order matches the difficulty level and the way children encounter these numbers naturally. - **Use physical objects before abstract numbers.** Blocks, coins, socks, and fingers all make the concept tangible. - **Sing and chant regularly.** Even a one-minute chant in the car or at bedtime builds fluency over time. - **Connect to real life constantly.** Time, money, and everyday objects are your best teaching tools. - **Mix sequences once each is familiar.** Switching between 2s, 5s, and 10s in a single activity builds flexible thinking. - **Keep sessions short and joyful.** Five enthusiastic minutes beats thirty reluctant ones every time. - **Do not skip the "why."** When children understand that counting by 5s is just adding five each time, they own the concept rather than just memorising a list. Skip counting is one of those foundational skills that rewards the time you invest in it many times over. Every multiplication table, every clock face, every handful of coins becomes easier once a child can move confidently through these patterns. The best part? Most of the teaching happens through play, conversation, and everyday life — no special equipment required.