Skip counting means counting in jumps: 2, 4, 6, 8 instead of 1, 2, 3, 4. It is how children count pairs of socks, piles of five-rupee coins and rows of ten, and it is the doorway to multiplication tables. The game above gives the jumping to a friendly frog. The frog sits on a stone with a number. Your child taps the number where it will land next. With every right tap the frog hops, the number is spoken aloud, and a new stone appears. Ten hops by twos take the frog to 20, ten hops by fives to 50, and ten hops by tens all the way to 100.
What is skip counting?
Skip counting is adding the same number again and again. Counting by twos gives the even numbers, counting by fives gives numbers ending in 5 or 0, and counting by tens gives the round numbers 10, 20, 30. Children usually learn them in this order: tens first (because the pattern is easiest to hear), then twos and fives. In Hindi you might say दो-दो करके गिनो (count two at a time).
How to use this page
- Choose By 2s, By 5s or By 10s.
- Look at the stones behind the frog, then tap the number on the next stone. Each hop is spoken in the first language chosen with the अ+A button.
- A wrong choice gets a hint: Golu says the number tapped, then repeats the question while the right card glows, then a 👆 appears.
- After ten hops the frog celebrates, a marble drops into the Goli Jar and your child gets a small mission.
Skip counting chart
| By | Numbers | Pattern to notice |
|---|---|---|
| 2s | 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 | Ones digit repeats 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 |
| 5s | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 | Ends in 5, then 0, then 5… |
| 10s | 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 | Ones digit is always 0 |
Print this page to keep the chart handy, or colour the patterns on the 1-100 chart on counting 1 to 100.
When are children ready?
Skip counting makes sense once a child can count to 20 (for twos), 50 (for fives) or 100 (for tens) by ones. For most children that is age 5-6, in UKG or kindergarten, and it continues in Class 1. Four-year-olds can enjoy counting pairs of shoes by twos with you, but do not expect them to hold the pattern alone yet. Knowing tens and ones makes counting by tens much more meaningful.
How to teach skip counting at home
Count real groups
Pairs of socks, chappals at the door, eyes and ears in the family (by twos). Fingers on each hand (by fives). Ten-rupee notes (by tens). Real groups show why we jump: every jump is a whole group.
Whisper and shout
Count 1 to 20 aloud, whispering the odd numbers and shouting the even ones: "one, TWO, three, FOUR". Soon your child drops the whispers and is counting by twos.
Hop on a floor number line
Chalk numbers 0 to 20 on the floor or courtyard. Your child hops over one number each time, just like the frog. For fives, draw every number and let them jump in big leaps.
Clap and move
Clap on every fifth number while counting to 50, or jump on every tenth while counting to 100. Rhythm helps the pattern stick.
Point out that numbers when counting by twos always end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. Children love discovering a pattern themselves; ask "What do you notice?" before telling.
Skip counting and times tables
Skip counting is the first form of multiplication. Five hops of two land on 10, and 5 × 2 = 10. When your child is ready (usually Class 1 or 2), the tables for kids page shows the same patterns as tables. There is no rush: children who can skip count comfortably often learn tables quickly later.
Common difficulties
- Losing the pattern after 10 when counting by twos. Count 10, 12, 14 slowly with real objects in pairs.
- Mixing 15 and 50. The words "fifteen" and "fifty" sound alike. Say them clearly and show both on fingers or a chart.
- Getting upset. Switch to By 10s, which is usually the easiest, and praise the effort: "You kept the frog hopping!"
For every child
The game is fully spoken, so children who cannot read yet can play. Children with motor challenges only need a single tap. Bilingual families can hear the numbers in Hindi first; the Hindi ginti page lists every number to 100. Keep screen time short and sit together; then take the counting outside to real steps and real groups. Children under two learn more from singing and counting with you than from a screen.
Questions to ask while you play
Before each hop, ask "How big is each jump?" and "Where will the frog land?" Encourage your child to say the number before tapping. After a few hops, cover the screen and ask what the next three numbers will be. When the frog reaches the end, ask "How many hops did it take to get to 20?" and count the hops on fingers. That is the first taste of multiplication: ten jumps of two. You can also compare modes: "The frog reached 20 by twos and 100 by tens. Which frog jumped further?" Children enjoy that question and it quietly teaches that bigger steps cover more ground.
