How Many Are Eating?

from 30 months · 5 min · Everyday helper

What you need

Before the meal, ask 'how many people are eating?' and count everyone together on your fingers.
Let them count out that many plates from the pile.
Then the same number of cups.
Let them put one at each place and check: is there one for everyone?

Counting the people first and then the plates is a real reason to count, and a job that helps the meal start.

Counting: Counting people, then counting plates to match, is one-to-one counting with a reason.
Setting the table: One plate for each place is the heart of laying a table.
Family: Saying who's eating is naming the family round the table.

Watch for them counting the places and the plates again to check.

Use plastic or melamine so a slip doesn't matter.

Easier: just plates, and count them together

Harder: add spoons too, or ask how many more you need if someone else is coming