Skip-counting by 5s, 10s, and 100s
In 2nd grade, children learn to skip-count by 5s, like 5, 10, 15; by 10s, like 40, 50, 60; and by 100s, like 300, 400, 500.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our 2nd grade practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
A baker is counting cookies in groups of 10. If the count is 120, 130, __, 150, what is the missing number?
- 135
- 145
- 140
Why this matters
Skip-counting is a small skill that opens several doors for your child. Counting by 5s is how they will count nickels and minutes on a clock. In 3rd grade, skip-counting becomes a path into multiplication: 5, 10, 15, 20 is already four groups of 5. And by counting in 100s, your child can reach 1,000 in ten steps instead of a thousand.
If counting by ones past a new hundred still trips your child up, they can review counting within 1,000 first.
Where kids can get stuck
- Counting by 10s only from multiples of 10, so starting at 47 goes 47, 50, 60 instead of 47, 57, 67.
- Losing the 5s pattern after 100, so 90, 95, 100 is followed by 110 instead of 105.
- Counting the hands instead of the fingers, so three hands come out as 3 rather than 15 when counting by 5s.
How you can help
- Count fingers and toes by 5s at bath time or bedtime. One hand is 5, two hands are 10, and everyone's hands and feet in the family make a big count.
- Build towers of 10 pennies or blocks and count the towers by 10s: 10, 20, 30. Then add 7 loose ones, start at 7, and count the towers by 10s: 7, 17, 27, 37.
- Take giant steps along the sidewalk, each one worth 100. Start from a different hundred each time, like 400, and see who reaches 1,000 first.
Want a little more? Watch the kid-friendly video below together, or try Bobby's Math Club for free practice that adapts to your child.
Kid-friendly explanation
Questions parents ask
Why is my child learning to skip-count?
Skip-counting shows how our number system is organized. If your child counts 340, 350, 360, they hear the tens climb while the hundreds and ones stay put. Counting by 10s or 100s shows which digit changes and which stays the same, and that makes adding 10 or 100 in their head quicker.
My child can count by 10s from 10 but not from 34. Why?
Counting by 10s from 10 is often a memorized chant. Starting from 34 requires understanding that only the tens digit changes: 34, 44, 54. Show this with dimes and pennies, starting with 3 dimes and 4 pennies and adding one dime at a time, so your child sees the ones staying the same while the tens grow.
Is skip-counting the same as knowing multiplication?
Not yet, but it's a strong start. Skip-counting by 5s to 30 tells your child how much six 5s make, which is what 6 × 5 = 30 means. In 3rd grade, children learn what multiplying means and, over time, learn those facts from memory. For now, skip-counting steadily, without dropping a number, is the goal.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns 2nd grade math practice into something fun to do together.
- Free, unlimited practice for every child in your family
- A few minutes a day, at just the right level
- You see their progress and what to work on next
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Ready to watch your child’s confidence grow?
Your 2nd grade child can start today with free, unlimited practice that grows with them.
Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard 2.NBT.A.2: “Count within 1000; skip-count by 5s, 10s, and 100s.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core 2.NBT.2)