What better time to start? And what better tools than baby’s finger and toes? This is sweet and simple – just count them. Often. And make it fun and playful! Start by counting to five by counting the fingers on one of baby’s hands. Do it often, whenever you’re at play together. Actually grasp or touch each finger as you count aloud: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Step the game up by counting the fingers on both hands, 1 to 10. Then later, add toes. Getting to 20 should give you plenty of numbers to enjoy at the next level, grouping.

And how convenient is this? Fingers are already grouped for you! Now you switch the counting game. Instead of counting fingers on both hands as 1 – 10, count them as 1 – 5 on one hand, then 1 – 5 on the second hand. Then, count all the fingers 1 – 10. Your child automatically starts to equate two groups of 5 as being equal to 10. And this introduces the concept of grouping in preparation for multiplication. (Including toes can eventually enable your child to easily manipulate 4 x 5 = 20).