How to Teach Skip Counting: 2s, 5s, 10s and Beyond
Teach skip counting by starting with 10s, 2s and 5s, using real objects in groups before saying the sequence aloud. Add movement and rhythm, colour the pattern on a hundred chart, then practise starting from different numbers and counting backwards. Once a sequence is secure, link it to the matching times table. Skip counting is the bridge between counting in ones and multiplication.
Why skip counting matters
Skip counting means counting forwards or backwards in steps bigger than one: 2, 4, 6, 8 or 5, 10, 15, 20. It makes counting large groups faster, it's how children count coins and read the minutes on a clock, and it's the first step towards knowing times tables. A child who can count in 5s already knows the 5 times table answers, even if they don't realise it yet.
Teach the sequences in this order
| Count in | Typical ages | Real-life link | Pattern to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10s | 5–6 | Fingers on a group of hands | Every number ends in 0 |
| 2s | 5–6 | Pairs of socks, shoes and eyes | Every number is even |
| 5s | 6–7 | Minutes on a clock, 5-cent coins | Numbers end in 5 or 0 |
| 3s and 4s | 7–8 | Wheels on tricycles and cars | 4s are every other number in the 2s |
| 6s to 12s | 8–10 | Eggs in boxes, months in a year | Build from known sequences |
| 25s, 50s and 100s | 8–11 | Money and measuring | Four 25s make 100 |
Ages vary between children and curricula, so move on when a sequence feels easy rather than by age alone.
Step 1: Count real groups
Start with objects in groups so the numbers mean something. Line up pairs of shoes and count “2, 4, 6, 8”. Stack 10 blocks into towers and count the towers in 10s. Put coins worth 5 in a row. Then check by counting in ones: it gives the same answer, just faster.
Step 2: Add movement and rhythm
Rhythm helps sequences stick. Try these:
- Whisper and shout: count in ones, whispering the in-between numbers and shouting the skip numbers: “one, TWO, three, FOUR”.
- Stair counting: say the next number in the sequence on each step.
- Ball toss: pass a ball back and forth, saying the next number with each catch.
- Clap and jump: clap in between and jump on each skip number.
Step 3: Use a hundred chart
Print a hundred chart and shade every number your child says while counting in 2s, 5s or 10s. The patterns jump out: 10s make a straight column, 5s make two columns, and 2s make stripes. Ask, “What do you notice?” Spotting patterns helps children predict the next number instead of counting on in ones in their head.
Step 4: Start from different numbers
Once 0, 10, 20, 30 is easy, try starting somewhere else: 7, 17, 27, 37. This shows that counting in 10s only changes the tens digit, which is excellent place value practice. Try 3, 5, 7, 9 for counting in 2s from an odd number.
Step 5: Count backwards
Counting back in steps, such as 50, 45, 40, 35, is harder but very useful. It prepares children for subtraction and division, and for counting down the minutes until something starts.
Step 6: Link to times tables
Ask your child to count in 5s and hold up a finger for each number. When they say 35, how many fingers are up? Seven. So 7 × 5 = 35. Keeping track of the number of jumps turns a counting sequence into a set of multiplication facts. A multiplication chart shows each sequence as a row. The skill pages for the 2 times table, 5 times table and 10 times table are natural next steps, followed by the Times Tables Challenge.
Skip counting in real life
- Money: count piles of coins of the same value. Money Match and the counting money page practise this.
- Clocks: count around the clock face in 5s to read the minutes. The Telling Time game and the telling the time to 5 minutes page put this to work.
- Shopping: “Each box has 6 eggs. How many in 3 boxes?”
- Games: count points in 2s, 5s or 10s when keeping score.
Common sticking points
- Counting in ones under their breath: that's fine at first. Shading the hundred chart helps them move to the pattern.
- Losing track after the first few numbers: practise a short chunk, such as to 30, until it's smooth, then extend.
- Crossing a hundred: 95, 100, 105 can trip children up. Practise just that section a few times.
Short, frequent practice works best. A minute of skip counting while walking to school or waiting for dinner adds up quickly. Our guide on how to teach multiplication shows where skip counting leads next.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I teach skip counting in?
Start with 10s, 2s and 5s, then 3s and 4s, then 6s to 12s. Counting in 25s, 50s and 100s is useful later for money and measuring.
At what age do children learn skip counting?
Many children count in 10s and 2s at around 5 to 6, in 5s at 6 to 7, and in 3s and 4s at about 7 to 8, but children vary.
How does skip counting help with times tables?
Each skip counting sequence is a list of times table answers. If a child counts in 5s and tracks the number of jumps on their fingers, seven jumps gives 35, so 7 × 5 = 35.