Ladybird Spots
Counting Fun for Little Ones!
Is there anything cuter than a ladybird? Not in this garden! Ladybird Spots is a gentle, engaging introduction to counting and cardinality for Early Years (EYFS) and Year 1.
It bridges the gap between the abstract number (Seeing the digit "5") and the concrete quantity (Seeing 5 dots).
🐞 Garden Guide
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Read the Number The Ladybird will tell you how many spots it wants (e.g., "Put 7 spots on!").
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Tap to Count Tap the red wings to place a black spot. Count out loud as you tap: "One, two, three..."
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Check Your Work Press the Check button to see if you are right. If not, can you add more or take some away?
📚 Curriculum Focus (Number)
Ladybird Spots is perfectly tuned for early numeracy development:
- Counting to 20 Count to and across 20, forwards and backwards, beginning with 0 or 1.
- Cardinality Understand that the last number reached when counting a small set of objects tells you how many there are in total.
- Number Recognition Identify and represent numbers using objects (spots) and pictorial representations.
🧠 One-to-One Correspondence
This is the "Golden Rule" of early counting: One touch = One count.
By physically tapping to create a spot, children reinforce this neurological link. It prevents the common mistake of counting faster than they are pointing!
👨👩👧 Snack Time Maths
Edible Counting:
- "Here is a plate (the ladybird). Can you put 5 raisins (spots) on it?"
- "Now eat one! How many are left?"
- Use buttons, coins, or pebbles in the garden for zero-calorie counting!
Fly away home... but not until you've finished your sums!
