One more and one less: 8 games to play together

Put 2 blocks on the table and count them together. Add 1 more block and ask: "How many blocks now?"

Your child counts all the blocks and says 3. Counting from 1 again is fine at this stage.

Hold up 3 fingers and count them together. Raise one more finger and ask how many fingers are up.

Your child says 4, by counting the fingers or by knowing that 4 comes after 3.

Put 4 crackers on a plate. Let your child eat 1, then ask: "How many are left on the plate?"

Your child looks at the plate, counts and says 3. Listen for the words "one less" if you used them.

Line up 5 toy animals and count them. Hide 1 behind your back and ask: "How many can you see now?"

Your child counts the animals still on the table and says 4.

Climb 3 stairs together, counting each step. Go up one more and ask which step you are on now.

Your child says 4. Then go down one step and check they can say 3.

Put 3 cars in a row and say: "We have 3 cars. One more car comes. What comes after 3?" Do not let them count from 1 this time.

Listen for 4 said straight away. If your child needs to count from 1, let them, and try again another day.

Ask without any objects: "You have 2 balloons and you get one more. How many balloons?" Keep a few toys nearby in case they want to check.

Your child says 3. Using fingers or toys to check is a good sign, not a mistake.

Act out a bus story with 5 toy passengers: one gets off, then one gets back on. Ask how many after each stop.

Your child says 4 after one gets off and 5 after one gets back on, and sees that the group is back where it started.