Adding with objects and fingers
In Pre-K, children learn to put small groups of real things together, to show adding on their fingers, and to answer everyday questions about how many there are in all.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our Pre-K 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
You see 4 birds sitting on a branch. 1 more bird flies to join them. How many birds are there altogether?
- 5
- 4
- 3
Why this matters
Putting things together and counting them all is your child's first taste of adding. Doing it with crackers, blocks, and fingers lets your child see and feel what adding means. That matters. In kindergarten, this hands-on start gives meaning to 3 + 2 = 5 and helps with story problems within 10. And adding is everywhere at home, from setting one more place at the table to counting friends as two more join a game.
Once putting groups together feels familiar, your child is ready for subtracting with objects and fingers.
Where kids can get stuck
- Counting only the things that were added, so 4 blocks and 2 more gives the answer 2 instead of 6.
- Counting one finger twice while putting two hands together, so 3 fingers and 2 fingers come out as 6.
- Guessing the total from how big the pile looks instead of counting, so 4 grapes and 3 more becomes "ten."
How you can help
- Put 2 strawberries on your child's plate, add 3 more while they watch, and ask how many they have now. Let them touch and count every one to check.
- Play a fingers game while you wait somewhere. Show 2 fingers on one hand and 2 on the other, and ask your child to copy you and tell you how many fingers are up altogether.
- Ask "How many now?" as friends or toys join in. If 3 stuffed animals are at a tea party and 1 more arrives, let your child count them all and tell you.
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
Why is my child learning to add with objects instead of numbers?
Adding is an action: putting groups together. Doing that action with real things helps your child understand what adding means before they meet the plus sign. A child who has joined 3 apples and 2 apples many times can make sense of 3 + 2 when they see it written, instead of memorizing it without meaning. Written number sentences come in kindergarten.
My child counts on their fingers to add. Is that okay?
Yes. Fingers are a set of objects that is always with your child, and using them is a sensible way to add at this age. They also help children see 5 as one whole hand. With time, your child will start to know some small totals without counting. Counting on fingers is a healthy part of getting there.
How do I know if my preschooler understands adding?
Watch what they do with a new pile. If you put 3 toy cars with 2 more and your child counts all of them to find 5, they understand that adding means putting together. Saying the group got bigger is a good sign too. Getting the right number every time isn't expected yet. Showing the idea is what counts.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns Pre-K math practice into something fun to do together.
- Free, unlimited practice for every child in your family
- 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 the Pre-K math learning standard PK.OA.1: “Demonstrate an understanding of addition and subtraction by using objects, fingers, and responding to practical situations (e.g., If we have 3 apples and add two more, how many apples do we have all together?).” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Pre-K standard PK.OA.1)