Counting, counting, counting!

It probably seems like we are always counting! We count together to the date on the class calendar, we count the number of children wearing shorts/pants to decide what our frog should wear, they count to the date on their calendars, and many other counting jobs. Most children can count, some skip a number here and there, but they have the concept. The part that needs work is counting objects, not just rote counting, and counting the 'teens'.
First, counting objects versus rote counting: instead of having your child count out loud to 20, ask them to line up 20 Legos, cars, Cheerios, whatever. Then have them touch each one as they say a number. Watch that they don't go too fast and say 1,2,3 before getting to the third object.
Second, counting the teens: the majority of the preschoolers either skip a teen, or repeat one, or just confuse the sounds. This sounds like "firteen, fourteen, fifteen" or "thirteen, fourteen, sixteen." Have your child slow down, work on those sounds. You can also just isolate those three to four numbers: "show me 13 crayons" then have them count 13 crayons. then, "show me 14 crayons" and count the 14 crayons. Ask which group has more crayons. Thirteen and fourteen seem to be the hardest to differentiate, although some skip from thirteen straight to eighteen. We will be spending quite a bit of time during the winter working on teen numbers, but this home practice will get them ready!