Early Numeracy Skills Checklist: Milestones and Tips

Helping your child develop a strong foundation in maths begins long before they enter school. From recognising shapes to counting snacks, children engage with numbers every day. These early interactions form the basis of what’s known as early numeracy skills – a key component of cognitive and academic development.

Understanding how your child’s maths abilities unfold over time can help you better support them through everyday play and conversation. This comprehensive early numeracy skills checklist outlines age-specific numeracy milestones, engaging activities and practical tips to make early maths both fun and meaningful.

Understanding Early Numeracy

What Is Early Numeracy?

Early numeracy refers to a child’s first experiences with mathematical thinking and problem-solving. It’s more than just counting for kids, it includes recognising numbers, comparing quantities, identifying patterns, and understanding basic maths concepts through play and exploration.

Here are some foundational early numeracy skills:

• Recognising and naming numbers
• Counting objects and understanding quantity
• Comparing concepts like more vs. less
• Identifying shapes and patterns
• Understanding size, order and basic measurement
• Beginning to estimate, sort and group items

According to the Australian Early Years Learning Framework, early numeracy includes number sense, pattern recognition, spatial awareness, and measurement – all of which begin developing in the first five years.

These foundational skills build the foundation for future maths learning like addition and subtraction. They also build the groundwork for everyday problem-solving, logical reasoning, and even scientific thinking.

Why Early Numeracy Matters

Strong early math development is closely linked to later academic success. According to experts from Raising Children Network, children who are exposed to numeracy from a young age tend to perform better in school mathematics, and also show stronger critical thinking and spatial awareness.

Just like early literacy, numeracy affects how your child makes sense of the world. A solid grasp of numbers during the early years builds confidence, supports curiosity, and enhances logical thinking – skills that benefit your child not just in school, but in everyday life.

Age-by-Age Numeracy Skills Checklist

As your child grows, their understanding of maths develops step by step. From toddlerhood to early primary years, they reach important numeracy milestones that form the foundation for lifelong learning. Understanding what to expect at each age helps you support your child’s early math development in natural, fun ways.

Below is a breakdown of math skills by age, what to look out for, and how you can encourage these skills at home.

Early numeracy skills in action: A simple cup stacking numbers game helps children learn to recognise numerals, count, and sequence in a hands-on, engaging way.

1–2 Years: Early Number Awareness

At this stage, toddlers begin to notice quantities and explore simple math concepts through everyday routines and play.

Numeracy milestones:

• Enjoying counting songs and rhymes
• Pointing to objects while you count
• Exploring stacking toys, shape sorters and blocks
• Using number words like “one” and “two”
• Understanding “gone” or noticing “more”

3–4 Years: Building Confidence with Numbers

During the preschool years, children begin applying math concepts in daily life.

Numeracy milestones:

• Counting up to 10, often by memory (rote counting)
• Sorting and matching by size, shape, or colour
• Recognising numbers 0–10
• Grasping “more,” “less,” and “same”
• Completing and creating simple patterns

5–6 Years: Developing Foundation (Prep) Maths Skills

This age marks the beginning of formal schooling in Australia, typically called the Foundation Year or Prep. Children begin solving basic math problems and using tools like number lines.

Numeracy milestones:

• Counting beyond 20
• Solving simple addition and subtraction problems
• Using fingers or objects to work out answers
• Understanding shapes and spatial terms (e.g., “behind,” “next to”)
• Identifying coins and understanding basic measurements (e.g., “shorter,” “heavier”)

6–7 Years: Applying Maths to the Real World

By early primary school, children begin using maths vocabulary and problem-solving skills more fluently.

Numeracy milestones:

• Skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s
• Recognising odd and even numbers
• Grouping objects (early multiplication)
• Using diagrams and number lines
• Understanding time, money and common units of measurement

Activities to Boost Numeracy at Home

Practising early numeracy skills at home – writing numbers on a chalkboard builds number recognition, fine motor control, and confidence in a playful way.

Learning early maths doesn’t require worksheets or screens. Many preschool math activities can be done using everyday items and a little creativity. These hands-on ideas help reinforce early numeracy skills at home in simple, meaningful ways.

Everyday Math in the Kitchen

Cooking is a great way to introduce maths concepts in a fun, practical setting:

• Measure ingredients using cups and spoons
• Set timers and read the numbers aloud
• Count items like berries, pasta pieces, or biscuits

Number Play with Toys

Toys offer natural opportunities to build number sense:

• Count toys as your child lines them up or puts them away
• Sort blocks by colour, size, or shape
• Use stacking cups to explore ideas like “bigger” and “smaller”

Outdoor Numeracy Activities

The outdoors is an excellent environment for early maths learning:

• Count steps on a walk
• Look for numbers on signs or letterboxes
• Collect and sort natural objects like leaves, stones, or sticks
• Create simple patterns using items found outside

Storybooks and Rhymes

• Counting for kids becomes more engaging when wrapped in stories and music:
• Read picture books with numbers or maths-related themes
• Sing songs like “Five Little Ducks” or “Ten in the Bed”
• Use finger movements and actions to bring counting rhymes to life

Printable and Visual Tools for Parents

Structured visuals make abstract maths ideas easier to understand. Using downloadable tools and visuals can help your child build skills and stay motivated.

Numeracy Skills Checklist (How to Create Your Own)

Looking to track your child’s early maths progress at home? While there isn’t a ready-made PDF in this article, here’s how you can create your own numeracy skills checklist – or know what to look for in one.

A well-structured checklist can help you monitor your child’s development and guide everyday learning in practical ways.

What to include:

Key numeracy milestones by age (1–7 years)

Examples:

• Age 2: Points to objects as you count
• Age 4: Recognises numbers up to 10
• Age 6: Begins simple addition and understands shapes like squares and circles

Progress Tracker

Leave space to record observations and notes:

• What your child enjoys (e.g., “loved sorting buttons by size”)
• What they find tricky (e.g., “confused between 6 and 9”)
• Any patterns or new strengths you notice

Home activity suggestions

Rather than listing activities, add prompts or a section like:

• “This week’s maths moments”
• “Everyday activities we turned into maths”
• “Questions my child asked about numbers”

Tip: Use a simple table or bullet format in a notebook or on your device. You can also search online for “free early numeracy skills checklist PDF” to find printable templates from reputable sources.

Visual Aids (Posters, Flashcards)

Hang helpful maths posters in your child’s room or learning space, you can also use fun math flashcards:

• Number lines
• Shape and colour charts
• Number charts
• Maths vocabulary cards (e.g., more/less, before/after)
• Age-appropriate flashcards that introduce early math concepts

Signs Your Child May Need Extra Support

Every child develops at their own pace, but recognising early signs of difficulty in numeracy can help you provide timely support. Early maths skills are essential for future academic success, so knowing when to take action matters.

Common Warning Signs to Watch For

If your child regularly struggles with the following, they may benefit from extra help:

• Trouble recognising or naming numbers
• Difficulty understanding quantities (e.g., which group has more or fewer)
• Avoiding number-related games, puzzles, or tasks
• Little or no progress with basic counting or number recognition over several months

These challenges may appear in day-to-day routines like sorting toys, counting snacks, or identifying shapes.

When to Seek Help

If you’re concerned, don’t wait. Speak with:

• Your child’s early childhood educator or teacher
• A pediatrician or your GP, especially if developmental delays are broader

Early intervention can lead to better outcomes. Many children simply need more repetition, different strategies, or a more hands-on learning approach.

How to Work with Educators on Numeracy

Collaborating with your child’s teacher helps create a consistent learning environment, both at home and school. Educators can give you insight into what your child is learning and how to support it in everyday situations.

Questions to Ask Your Child’s Teacher

• Is my child meeting the expected math skills for their age?
• What numeracy concepts are they learning right now?
• Are there specific areas where my child struggles?
• How can I help at home to reinforce what’s being taught in class?

How to Reinforce Classroom Learning at Home

Simple steps can make a big difference:

• Use familiar routines: Echo classroom activities like number songs, shape hunts, or sorting tasks.
• Reinforce vocabulary: Use school terms like greater/less, heavier/lighter, more/less in daily conversation.
• Ask for resources: Many teachers are happy to share games, worksheets, or ideas for practising at home.

By staying involved and informed, you’re giving your child the best possible foundation for long-term confidence and success in maths.

Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Parents

Supporting your child’s early numeracy development is one of the most valuable investments you can make in their education. But it’s important to remember – there’s no single path or pace. Some children count everything in sight. Others may take a little longer to grasp new concepts. That’s normal.

The key is to make maths part of everyday life. Keep it playful, positive, and connected to real experiences.

You don’t need to aim for perfection. Instead, focus on:

• Making numbers a natural part of conversations and routines
• Celebrating small wins and progress
• Encouraging curiosity and problem-solving

With time, patience, and the right support, your child will develop strong number skills that extend beyond schoolwork and into everyday decision-making and confidence.

Photo by Shichida Australia: Building early numeracy skills through meaningful play – Shichida classes support hands-on learning with number games that make maths fun and interactive.

Whole-Brain Learning Builds a Love for Numbers

Want to go beyond an early numeracy skills checklist?

Your child is already learning maths – while pouring cereal, lining up toys or singing rhymes. At Shichida Australia, we build on these everyday moments through our proven whole-brain learning approach. Our classes nurture:

• Early numeracy and number sense
• Focus and memory
• Creative thinking and logic
• And much more!

Book a Trial Class and see how our hands-on, brain-boosting program builds strong foundations for lifelong learning – starting from the very first years!