Should You Be Worried If Your Toddler Can’t Count To 10?

Early education is one of the toughest elements of parenthood. You feel like you’re in a constant battle with other parents about what’s “normal” or not. Some friends or people posting in online forums will talk about their toddler doing abnormal things, and this makes you wonder if your child is lagging behind. 

You’ll often see the biggest confusion surrounding counting and toddlers. How old should a child be when they can count to ten? More importantly, should you be worried if your toddler can’t count? 

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When Do Children Start Counting To Ten?

This is a tough question, as it’s hard to find the right answer. It depends on the child and how they’ve been brought up.

For instance, a child that’s spent the first 18 months of their life listening to nursery rhymes with counting – or playing number games with their parents – may easily be able to count to ten. On the other hand, another child may struggle to get the full sequence of numbers together. 

There’s a little bit of nature vs nurture about this, but we can also look at when most kids develop math skills by age. On average, toddlers learn to count to 10 when they’re around 2 years old. They may not fully understand what the numbers mean, but they can recite from one to ten. 

Furthermore, kids can count to 10 when they’re 3 and should understand what the numbers mean. With that in mind, you shouldn’t be overly worried if your child can’t count to ten if they’re under 3 years old. Especially if you’ve maybe not been as active in teaching them about numbers from a young age. 

When Should I Start Worrying?

Every parent wonders about this! You can’t help but worry about your child, though most experts suggest your fears shouldn’t kick in until they’re kindergarten age. At that point in their lives, your child should be able to count to 10 with ease. Ideally, they’re counting above it at that point. 

What Should I Do If My Child Can’t Count To 10?

Again, it depends on how old they are. If your toddler is still only two years old, then you don’t need to sound the alarm bells yet. Still, it’s a good idea to teach them more about math and counting from a young age. Find toddler-approved math puzzles or games for them to play. Read them books or nursery rhymes that involve a lot of numbers or counting. This type of repetition helps them gradually learn the different numbers and understand sequencing. 

If your child still can’t count by the time they’re in kindergarten, then it could be worth seeing a specialist. They may be exhibiting the early signs of a learning disability like dyslexia or ADHD. Picking up on these things from an early age makes it far easier for your child to grow and develop with minimal setbacks. 

So, in conclusion, you shouldn’t be overly worried if your toddler can’t count to 10, as long as they learn by the time they go to school or are ready to be properly homeschooled. Speed up or encourage their development with themed games or books so they’re surrounded by numbers from a younger age. 

This is a contributed post.

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