Subtracting with objects and fingers
In Pre-K, children learn to take some things away from a small group, to show taking away by folding down fingers, and to tell how many are left.
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 have 4 stickers. You give away 4 stickers. How many do you have now?
- 4
- 0
- 1
Why this matters
Taking away helps your child understand that numbers can go down as well as up. Watching 5 grapes become 3 after eating 2 gives real meaning to the word "left." Your child will need that word for subtraction stories within 10 in kindergarten, and later for 5 - 2 = 3. And it comes up at home all the time. Cookies get eaten, toys get put away, and friends go home.
If taking away feels hard at first, your child can review adding with objects and fingers and watch the same groups grow instead.
Where kids can get stuck
- Counting the things taken away instead of the ones left, so 4 grapes with 1 eaten gives the answer 1.
- Adding instead of taking away, so 5 crackers with 2 eaten becomes 7, because putting together feels more familiar.
- Counting every object again, including the ones moved aside, so 6 blocks with 2 taken off still gives 6.
How you can help
- Sing counting-down songs about five little monkeys or ducks, holding up five fingers and folding one down each time one goes away. Pause to ask how many are left.
- Take a few bites together at snack time. Start with 6 crackers, eat 2, and ask your child how many are still on the plate before they count to check.
- Tidy up with a question. If 7 toy cars are on the floor and your child puts 3 in the box, ask how many cars are still waiting to be put away.
If it’s helpful, you can watch the kid-friendly video below, or sign up for free, adaptive practice in Bobby's Math Club.
Kid-friendly explanation
Questions parents ask
Why is my child learning subtraction through everyday stories?
Stories give taking away a reason. If 5 ducks swim off one at a time, or 3 of your 8 grapes get eaten, your child can see what is happening and say how many are left. The words in those stories, such as "left," "gone," and "fewer," are the words your child will use in every take-away story to come. The story does the explaining.
What if my child can add with objects but finds taking away harder?
That's common at this age, and it's nobody's fault. Taking away asks your child to keep track of two things at once: what was there and what went. Moving the taken-away items to a separate spot, such as a napkin, helps them see which ones to count. Keep the starting number to 5 or less at first.
What numbers should I use for taking away with my preschooler?
Start small, with 5 or fewer things, and work up toward 10. There are 4 balloons and 1 floats away, so how many are left? Your child can act it out, use objects, or fold down fingers. Some children count what is left one by one, and some start to see it at a glance. Both are fine.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns Pre-K math practice into something fun to do together.
- Unlimited free practice
- Questions matched to your child’s level, a few minutes a day
- Hints when they are stuck, and a celebration when it clicks
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)