Hundreds Chart: Teach Your Preschooler To Count to 100 Today!

Hundreds Chart: Teach Your Preschooler To Count to 100 Today!


Don’t wait until kindergarten to explore a Hundreds Chart with your preschooler. Here’s why:

“41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 100!” Gemma sung out loud as we drove home after school last week. Lately, my 4-year-old has been very interested in counting to 100 with me. So in our car rides to and from preschool, we’ve started counting. Although Gemma’s pretty good at following my lead during our daily “count-alongs,” she often skips numbers and even jumps the gun to 100 when I stop counting with her. Whoa there, girl. Back up!

First off, let’s get one thing straight. Counting to one-hundred is HARD work. In general, math is not an easy subject for early learners to master right away. Why? Because it requires the cognitive development and understanding of very abstract concepts: cardinality (size or quantity), symbolic representation (numerals), ordinal rule (order of numbers), and not to mention, number operations (addition, subtraction, etc.).

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Yes, I’m proud that my preschooler can “count” to 100 (with my help). Woo-hoo! But, I also know from her skipping numbers and jumping to 100 that she doesn’t truly understand what one-hundred means outside of reciting the numbers in order by memory. I realized that if I want Gemma to really start to explore and master the concept of 100, we’d have to do more than just count to 100 in song every day.

Hundreds Chart: Counting to 100 Made Easy and Effective

Number concepts of one-hundred is often explored starting in kindergarten with the use of the classic Hundreds Chart. It’s a gridded chart with rows of tens numbered 1 through 100. What’s beautiful about this chart is its simple design and flexible capacity to explore a wide range of math concepts with your child.

But wait, you might ask, aren’t Hundreds Chart activities and concepts too advanced and hard for my preschooler? Absolutely not! Although there are many advanced games and activities intended for older kids, kindergarten to second grade, like all things early learning, we can discover what the Hundreds Chart has to offer for younger kids through hands-on sensory play!

Print out the Playful Bee Hundreds Chart worksheets and try out these fun, brain-stimulating number activities with your child at home.

Counting forward from 1 to 100

Just using the chart to point out each number goes a long way in helping your child see the pattern of numbers go up one-by-one as you count up. Try picking random rows of tens to explore and start with the 1 unit so that your child can begin to see and hear the full sequence of 1 through 10 in every set (although the verbalization of 11-20 is the most off-pattern to teach!). For an added challenge, try selecting a random number and counting by 10’s to explore the number pattern (e.g. 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52,…)

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Counting backward from 100 to 1

Let’s face it, counting forward becomes second nature because we do it so often. To better work your child’s brain and consolidate his understanding of number sequence, try counting in reverse order! Just be sure to start off with small and easy countdowns, like “5-4-3-2-1, blast off!”

Numbers Puzzles

Cut a Hundreds Chart into puzzle pieces along the lines. For beginners, try cutting pieces in simple number groupings (e.g. 5’s, 10’s). Give the pieces to your child to piece back together. If he needs help, point out clues that will show him the pattern to follow.

Montessori Number Blocks

In Montessori education, one of the basic foundations of early math is the understanding of concrete number values. Similar to Montessori number beads, cut out blocks of 1’s, 5’s, and 10’s from the Playful Bee Blank Hundreds Grid. With these blocks, you can explore the concept of adding and subtracting using these fixed block counters and the Hundreds Chart.

Pattern Play

The Hundreds Chart showcases many patterns that you and your preschooler can easily explore. Try exploring the concepts of even numbers, odd numbers, skip counting by 5’s, skip counting by 10’s, columns, and rows. Discuss the visual pattern you see from each of these math concepts.

Find the Number

Pick two colors/types of counters and a Hundreds Chart to share. Start by calling out a number and having your child identify and cover the number up on the chart with one of his counters. Ask him to call out a new number for you to identify and cover it up with your counter. Continue doing this until the first person who gets three numbers in a row wins.

100 Days Goal

Place a Hundreds Chart up on the refrigerator and have your child mark off each day that passes by. Have him count each day already crossed off on the chart to practice his counting skills with purpose. When he gets to his 100th day, celebrate with a fun treat or activity together!

Exploring Numbers Through Hands-On Sensory Learning

Using a Hundreds Chart can add value to your child’s early math education by making the order of numbers and patterns more visible. In addition to hearing (counting out loud) and seeing (using the Hundreds Chart), you can incorporate kinesthetic learning to further consolidate your child’s understanding of these math concepts! You can use colorful crayons and markers to color in or circle numbers, edible counters (e.g. raisins, cheerios, and goldfish crackers), or even tear off bits of playdough to cover each highlighted number as you play (Gemma’s personal favorite so far!).

Mommy and Daddy, No Drill and Kill Please

Here’s the thing, using Hundreds Charts and similar type worksheets can quickly become a drag as uninspiring and dreaded “drill and kill” activities, if you let it. To avoid this fate, remember these simple rules of thumb:

  1. Make learning interesting. All children are not made equal in skills or interest. Observe your child’s skill level and preferred approaches to learning in order to maximize his learning experience. For instance, if your child does not typically enjoy working with numbers as-is, try incorporating storytelling into your activities together.
  2. Play with your child. Early learning shouldn’t be a chore that you “have to do.” This goes for both you and your child. You can make learning fun by remembering to maintain a lighthearted attitude and playing with your child (not teaching down to).
  3. Keep play time short. Remember that a preschooler’s attention span, while growing, is still relatively short, especially for learning challenging new concepts. The goal is for your child to explore and discover a little piece of the Hundreds Chart at a time. For instance, if you want to explore counting up, try selecting a few rows to count up with (e.g. 20’s, 50’s, and 70’s). And, it’s true: small sprints of learning can go a long way!
  4. Be positive and supportive. If your child struggles with concepts or skills, don’t sweat it! Children, like adults, learn through repeated exposure and practice. So instead of being disappointed or frustrated with a lack of progress, try to focus on giving your child warm praise for his efforts rather than criticizing the results.

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With the Hundreds Chart in hand, I can more easily and effectively help my preschooler develop her Knowledge of Numbers and Counting and One-to-One Correspondence skills. Instead of relying on rote memorization, Gemma is now learning to master the counting of large numbers with concrete understanding and full confidence…96, 97, 98, 99, 100!

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Yvette Hwee

CEO & Founder at Playful Bee
I'm the momma of Gemma, a curious 3-year old, and Foxin, a rambling 1-year old, so I'm deep in the trenches every day, just like you. I'm deeply passionate about early childhood education and policy. On any given day, you'll find me 1) running a mile a minute chasing after my tots, 2) busy at work with Playful Bee, 3) cuddling with my dogs, 4) chowing down on a delicious meal with my hubby, and 5) enjoying a bit of zen during a hot stone massage. As young parents, our days may be long and years short, but ahhhh...life can be good if we let it.
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