It is important to teach children how to count. But, what’s the next step after
learning to count? It’s skip counting! Skip counting is an important
mathematical concept that kids must know about. This concept can also help
kids when they learn addition and subtraction. We have covered some basic
information on skip counting for children below, along with solved examples.
Let’s read!
What Is Skip Cou nt i n g?
Let’s take a look at the meaning of skip counting for children.
Skip counting is counting where we skip certain numbers while counting. For
example, when we skip count by 3, we start from 0, and we skip the next few
numbers and go to the third number, which will be 3.Skip counting also means adding or subtracting a particular number each time
from the previous number. For example, if we are to skip count by 100, we would
count as 100, 200, 300, 400 . . . and so on. Here, each number in this sequence is
100 more than the previous number.
Why Shou l d You r Chil d Lea rn Skip Cou nt i n g?
Your child is ready to learn to skip counting when they have mastered the basics
of counting and 1-to-1 correspondence. Learning skip counting helps children
build a solid foundation of number sense. It also helps them to recognise
patterns while counting numbers. Here are some other benefits of learning skip
counting for kids:
● Skip counting is ideal for studying multiplication times tables.
● Skip counting can speed up your kid’s ability to count objects.
● Skip counting develops the understanding of number patterns and
concepts.
● Skip counting increases the familiarity with how numbers work and how to
use them.
What Are The Typ es Of Skip Cou nt i n g?
Let’s take a look at types of skip counting for kids.
1. Forw a r d Skip Cou nt i n g
It is when we add or count in the forward direction of the given number. For
example, when we have to skip count by 5, it will look like this:
● 0 + 5 = 5
● 5 + 5 = 10
● 10 + 5 = 15
● 15 + 5 = 202. Back w a rd Skip Cou nt i n g
It is when we subtract or count in the backward direction of the given number.
For example, if we start from 20 and do backwards skip counting by 5, it will look
like this:
● 20 – 5 = 15
● 15 – 5 = 10
● 10 – 5 = 5
● 5 – 5 = 0
How To Skip Cou nt With Diffe re n t Numb e r s?
In this section, we will look at how to skip count from the given number.
Cou nt i n g By 2
Here we will be adding 2 to the previous number.
So, if we will start counting from 0, skip counting by 2 will look like this:
● 0 + 2 = 2
● 2 + 2 = 4
● 4 + 2 = 6
● 6 + 2 = 8
● 8 + 2 = 10 … and so on.
Cou nt i n g By 3
Here we will be adding 3 to the previous number.
So, if we will start counting from 0, skip counting by 3 will look like this:
● 0 + 3 = 3● 3 + 3 = 6
● 6 + 3 = 9
● 9 + 3 = 12
● 12 + 3 = 15 … and so on.
Cou nt i n g By 4
Here we will be adding 4 to the previous number.
So, if we will start counting from 0, skip counting by 4 will look like this:
● 0 + 4 = 4
● 4 + 4 = 8
● 8 + 4 = 12
● 12 + 4 = 16
● 16 + 4 = 20 … and so on.
Cou nt i n g By 5
Here we will be adding 5 to the previous number.
So, if we will start counting from 0, skip counting by 5 will look like this:
● 0 + 5 = 5
● 5 + 5 = 10
● 10 + 5 = 15
● 15 + 5 = 20
● 20 + 5 = 25 … and so on.
Cou nt i n g By 10
Here we will be adding 10 to the previous number.
So, if we will start counting from 0, skip counting by 10 will look like this:
● 0 + 10 = 10
● 10 + 10 = 20● 20 + 10 = 30
● 30 + 10 = 40
● 40 + 10 = 50 … and so on.
Cou nt i n g By 25
Here we will be adding 25 to the previous number.
So, if we will start counting from 0, skip counting by 25 will look like this:
● 0 + 25 = 25
● 25 + 25 = 50
● 50 + 25 = 75
● 75 + 25 = 100
● 100 + 25 = 125 … and so on.
Cou nt i n g By 50
Here we will be adding 50 to the previous number.
So, if we will start counting from 0, skip counting by 50 will look like this:
● 0 + 50 = 50
● 100 + 50 = 150
● 150 + 50 = 200
● 200 + 50 = 250
● 250 + 50 = 300 … and so on.
Cou nt i n g By 100
Here we will be adding 100 to the previous number.
So, if we will start counting from 0, skip counting by 100 will look like this:
● 0 + 100 = 100
● 100 + 100 = 200
● 200 + 100 = 300● 300 + 100 = 400
● 400 + 100 = 500 … and so on.
What Are The Best Ways To Tea ch Skip Cou nt i n g?
1. Que st i on You r Chil d
Ask your child questions like “Skip count by 5’s” or “Skip count to 100 by 20’s”.
2. Lea rn With Numb e r Char t s
One of the best ways to teach children to skip count. You can start teaching them
how to skip count by 2 first and then increase the skip counting level gradually.
3. Cou nt With A Calc u l a tor
This is a fun way for kids to learn to skip count.
Show your child how to change the beginning number by continuing to press
the equal sign. Make sure your child says the next number before pressing the
button!
4. Skip Cou nt i n g Puzz l e s
There are various puzzles available in the market that can help your child learn to
skip count in a playful way.
Act iv i ti es That Will Help You r Chil d To Lea rn Skip Cou nt i n gHere are some fun skip counting games and activities that will help to teach your
child to learn to skip count.
1. Stan d & Sit Game
Ask your child to skip count by 3 and stand on every third number.
2. Comp l e te The Skip Cou nt i n g
On a paper, write skip counting by 5 – 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and so on. Now, delete a
few numbers from this and ask your child to fill in the blank spaces.
3. Skip Cou nt i n g Poe m
Teach your child to skip count with the help of poems and songs, such as those
given below:
2 Pou nd Cat
A 2-pound cat,
What’s up with that?
I hope my cat’s not getting fat…
A 4-pound cat,
What’s up with that?
I hope my cat’s not getting fat…
A 6-pound cat,
What’s up with that?
I hope my cat’s not getting fat…An 8-pound cat,
What’s up with that?
What’s up with that!
What’s up with that!
A 10-pound cat,
What’s up with that?
I KNOW my cat is really fat,
I KNOW my cat is really fat,
Made a hole right where she sat…
Terr i fie d Twin s
2 terrified twins, tweeted on twitter,
We’re trapped on the top of a tree!
Another 2 twins climbed quickly to help them,
Now there was one more than 3!
2 twins at the bottom wanted to help,
And climbed to the tree-top so high,
Now how many twins were stuck in the tree?
Hanging so close to the sky?
Then 2 older twins, saw the 6 twins,
Stuck in the branches like fruits,
And helped those twins down,
One at a time,
They led them right down to the roots!
How many twins were safe at the bottom,
What was the total amount?
6 twins from the top and a pair that had saved them,
Make 4 pairs of twins we should count…
Whenever I’m counting things like 2 twins,
What is the math that I use?If things come in pairs like twins on a tree,
I’ll choose to use counting by 2’s…
4. Add The Pape r Pins
Take a paper plate and write skip counting by 5 on it. Do leave some space
between the numbers. Ask your child to add in the correct number of paper pins
to reach the required number. For example, between 0 and 5, they have to add 4
paper pins to reach the number 5.
5. Lea rn With Bui ld i n g Bloc k s
Ask your child to skip count to 15 by 3 by making towers with building blocks.
Here they have to make 5 towers with 3 building blocks in each tower to reach
the number 15.
6. Arr an ge The Pops i c le Stic k s
Take a few popsicle sticks and write skip counting to 40 by 4 on them. So, you will
have popsicle sticks with the numbers 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40. Now,
mix these sticks and ask your child to arrange the sticks by following the correct
pattern.
7. Fill The Shee t
Ask your child to write the skip counting by 2, 5, and 10, starting with 0.
8. Hop & Cou ntAsk your child to do skip counting by 5. Make sure they hop on each number. You
can also ask your child to change the leg on every hop to make the game more
interesting.
Solv e d Exam p le s Of Skip Cou nt i n g
Below are some skip counting examples for kids.
1. If you had to cou n t 10 app l e s, wh ic h of th e foll o wi n g cou n t i ng met h o ds
wou l d help you cou n t th em all fas t e r?
Skip cou n t i ng by 1
Skip cou n t i ng by 2
Solu t i on :
Skip counting by 2.
2. Skip cou n t to 20 by 5.
Solution: 5, 10, 15, 20
3. Whic h num b e r do you nee d to add to th e ser i e s of num b e rs if
you wan t to sk ip cou n t by 10?
Solu t i on :
To perform a skip count by 10, we will keep adding 10 to the previous
number.
Prac t i ce Que st i on s For Kids1. Fill in th e Miss i n g Numb e r s: 2, ____, 6,____, 10
a. 4 & 8
b. 3 & 8
c. 4 &7
Ans w er:
a. 4 & 8
2. What are th es e num b e rs sk ip cou n t i ng by ?
30, 33, 36, 39
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
Ans w er:
c. 3
We hope this article helped your little one to learn skip counting. To know about
more such fun mathematical concepts, keep looking at this space.