Thinking Deeply about Primary Education It’s the Thought that Counts: Why Learning to Count Is More Complex Than You Think
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Nov 22, 2025 Learning to count involves much more than reciting numbers. Kieran dives into the complexities of counting, from innate abilities to formal skills. He contrasts animal quantity responses with human memory, introducing subitising as a vital bridge to arithmetic. Exploring foundational concepts like the stable order principle and one-to-one correspondence, he emphasizes the importance of counting layouts and diverse learner support. Discover why some students struggle despite knowing number sequences and how effective teaching can make all the difference.
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Animals 'Counting' And The Horse Hans
- Kieran recounts many animal counting studies and the famous 'counting horse' Hans who responded to owner cues rather than counting.
- He uses these examples to show animals respond to stimuli while humans retrieve memories enabling true counting.
Subitising As The Counting Bridge
- Subitising is the innate, instantaneous recognition of small quantities that bridges animal discrimination and human counting.
- It develops between ~18 months and 3½ years and supports later arithmetic by grouping perceptually when needed.
Counting Is A Developmental Trajectory
- Counting sits on a trajectory from biological discrimination to culturally taught number sense.
- Subitising is the natural start; everything beyond often requires expert instruction.