Mathematics

By 9 months, most children:

• Hold two objects, one in each hand
• Gesture (e.g., for “more” when eating)

By 18 months, most children:

• Use words or gestures for action phrases (e.g., “all gone” and “more”)
• Recognize that there are “one” or “two” of something

By 24 months, most children:

• Name their first number word—typically “two” (or they hold up two fingers)
• Bring two treats when asked to get treats for two people
• Match small and large objects (e.g., counting bears to make “Mommy and Me” pairs)

By 36 months, most children:

• Verbally count to ten (or in some way indicate a knowledge of words for the numbers from one to ten in sequence) with occasional errors
• Count up to five objects accurately
• Name and identify some written numerals
• Identify numerals as being different from letters

By 48 months, most children:

• Quickly name the number in a group of objects, up to four
• Verbally count to 20 (or in some way indicate knowledge of the words for the numbers from 1 to 20 in sequence) with occasional errors
• Use strategies to accurately count sets of up to 10 objects
• Understand that the last number counted represents the number of objects in a set
• Associate a quantity with a written numeral up to five
• Recognize and write some numerals up to 10

By 60 months, most children:

• Quickly name the number in a group of objects, up to 10
• Verbally count beyond 20 (or in some way indicate knowledge of numbers beyond 20 in sequence), demonstrating an understanding of the number pattern
• Use strategies to count large sets of objects (more than 10)
• Know the number that comes before or after a specified number (up to 20)
• Recognize and order each written numeral up to 10
• Associate a quantity with a written numeral up to 10