Skip Counting and Place Value Games

Skip counting means counting in steps larger than one: 2, 4, 6, 8 or 5, 10, 15, 20. It is the bridge between counting and times tables, and it goes hand in hand with understanding what each digit in a number is worth.

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What skip counting really teaches

Skip counting is the very first step towards multiplication. Counting in 5s (5, 10, 15, 20) is the 5 times table before children know the name. Counting in 10s from any number, such as 34, 44, 54, 64, also builds a deep feel for place value, as the tens digit goes up by one each time.

Children also learn to count backwards in steps (30, 27, 24, 21) and to spot rules in a number sequence: "this goes up by 7 each time". Finding the missing number in a pattern, such as 15, 20, 25, ?, 35, combines counting, addition and pattern-spotting.

Place value goes with it. In 4,726, the 7 stands for 700 because it is in the hundreds column. Knowing that each place is worth ten times the place to its right is the foundation for reading, writing, comparing and calculating with big numbers.

Common mistakes to watch for

The most common errors come at "bridging" points. Counting in 5s is easy up to 50, but the jump from 95 to 100 can trip children up, as can crossing a hundred when counting by 10s, for example 90, 100, 110. Practising those transitions out loud helps.

When counting backwards, children often slip by one: 30, 27, 24, 22. Checking by counting forwards on a number line catches this. Another mistake is applying the wrong step halfway through, drifting from 3s into 4s.

In place value, a classic trap is mixing the digit with its value. In 4,726, the digit 2 has the value 20, not 2. Zeros are another source of error: children write "three thousand and forty-five" as 300045. Using a place-value chart with columns for thousands, hundreds, tens and ones fixes this. Place value drives reading numbers aloud as well.

How to practise at home

Make skip counting rhythmic: clap or stamp on the beat and chant in 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s. Count steps on stairs, tiles on the floor, or buttons on a shirt in groups. Count coins in 2s, 5s and 10s when emptying a piggy bank, which is a real use of the skill.

Play "what's missing?" with number sequences you write on a piece of paper. Cover one number in 12, 24, 36, ?, 60 and ask your child to find it and say the rule. Switch roles and let your child set puzzles for you.

For place value, use digit cards. Make a number such as 5,038, then swap two cards and ask whether the new number is bigger or smaller and by how much. Ask what the 3 is worth in each. This builds confidence with big numbers.

How Maths Guru teaches skip counting

Skipping Village in Conquer the World is the skip-counting and place-value island. It has ten levels, each of 20 questions, followed by a 30-question boss battle. Early levels use steps of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 from small starting numbers, then widen to 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12, and later to 25, 50 and even 100 with starting values in the hundreds. Question types include what comes next, find the missing number, and what is the rule.

The place-value strand asks for the value of a digit or the digit in a certain place, from two-digit numbers up to five-digit numbers (ten thousands) in the later levels. Younger year groups get gentler numbers. Memory Dash's Sequence Gap challenge also asks children to fill the gap in a number sequence that goes up or down in steps.

Worked examples

2, 4, 6, 8, ?

Answer: 10

The sequence goes up by 2 each time, so after 8 comes 8 + 2 = 10.

5, 10, 15, ?, 25

Answer: 20

The step is 5, so the missing number is 15 + 5 = 20. Check: 20 + 5 = 25.

What is the rule? 7, 14, 21, 28

Answer: Add 7 each time

14 − 7 = 7, 21 − 14 = 7 and 28 − 21 = 7. The rule is to add 7, and these are the 7 times table.

150, 175, 200, ?

Answer: 225

The step is 25 (175 − 150 = 25). Adding 25 to 200 gives 225.

What is the value of the 7 in 4,726?

Answer: 700

The 7 is in the hundreds column, so its value is 7 × 100 = 700.

Write 3,405 in expanded form

Answer: 3000 + 400 + 5

3 thousands, 4 hundreds, 0 tens and 5 ones, so 3,000 + 400 + 5. The zero tens means no tens are added.

Tips for parents

Make counting rhythmic with claps, steps and chants to lock in the pattern.
Practise bridging points, such as 95 to 100, aloud.
Count coins and steps at home to make skip counting real.
Use a place-value chart to separate a digit from its value.
Skip count from different starting numbers, not only from zero.

Practise it in these games

Questions parents ask

Why is skip counting important?

It is the foundation of times tables and builds number sense and place value. A child who can count in 3s fluently will find the 3 times table much easier.

What ages is skip counting suitable for?

Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s starts at about ages 5 to 6. Maths Guru's Skipping Village is open to all year groups, with easier steps for younger children and larger steps and five-digit numbers for older ones.

What is place value?

Place value is the worth of a digit based on its position. In 4,726, the 4 is 4,000, the 7 is 700, the 2 is 20 and the 6 is 6.

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