Counting to 100 by ones
In kindergarten, children learn to count aloud by ones from 1 to 100, saying every number in order, including the turns from one ten to the next, such as 29 to 30.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our kindergarten 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
Which number comes between 7 and 9?
- 10
- 6
- 8
Why this matters
Counting to 100 gives your child their first map of the numbers they will use for years to come. After the teens, each new ten follows the same pattern, so 41 to 49 sounds a lot like 21 to 29. Noticing that pattern is what keeps your child going, and in 1st grade they count on past 100 to 120. You'll hear it in hide-and-seek, in counting the days to a birthday, and in counting pennies in a jar.
After this, your child moves on to counting to 100 by tens, a quicker way through the same numbers.
Where kids can get stuck
- Getting stuck at the end of a ten, saying "twenty-nine, twenty-ten" instead of thirty.
- Skipping a number partway through a ten, such as going from 56 straight to 58, without noticing the gap.
- Saying "fiveteen" for fifteen or "threeteen" for thirteen, since those teen words don't sound like the numbers they come from.
How you can help
- Count to 100 by ones together on a long car ride, taking turns with each ten, so your child says 21 to 30 and you say 31 to 40.
- Count how many times you can bounce a ball back and forth before it drops, saying each number out loud, and try to beat your best count next time.
- Count out loud while you wait, such as in a line at the store or for the bath to fill, and see how far you get before the wait is over.
The kid-friendly video below explains it in a few minutes, and Bobby's Math Club offers free practice that grows with your child.
Kid-friendly explanation
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to learn to count to 100?
Counting to 100 usually builds up over the whole kindergarten year, a ten or two at a time. Start where your child is comfortable, and add the next ten once the last one feels easy. Counting smoothly to 30 is a better step than rushing to 100 with gaps. There's no prize for getting there first.
My child always gets stuck at 29 or 39. How can I help?
The turn from one ten to the next is the hardest part of counting to 100, so this is common. Count together and pause at 29 to let your child say the next number. If they are unsure, say "thirty" and keep going without making a fuss. Hearing the turn many times, at 39, 49, and 59, helps the pattern stick.
Does counting to 100 mean my child understands numbers to 100?
Not necessarily. Saying the numbers in order is a separate skill from knowing what 67 means or counting 67 objects. In kindergarten, counting objects goes up to 20. Reciting to 100 builds the language and the pattern your child will later connect to amounts. Both matter, and they grow at different speeds.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns kindergarten math practice into something fun to do together.
- Unlimited free practice
- Questions matched to your child’s level, a few minutes a day
- 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.
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Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard K.CC.A.1: “Count to 100 by ones and by tens.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core K.CC.1)