How can you tell they’ve got it: Counting forwards and backwards (age 6+)?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Count 7, 17, 27, 37 … from a non-multiple starting point; Count backwards in tens from 83; Explain the pattern of adding/subtracting 10. Or just try it together: If your child starts at 37 and you ask them to count up in tens, can they say 37, 47, 57, 67 — crossing over into the next hundred without getting stuck?

Mathematics Counting & Cardinality Ages 6–7

Counting forwards and backwards (age 6+)

Your child can count in tens from any number, not just 10 or 20. Starting at 37 they say 37, 47, 57, into the next hundred.

In curriculum terms

Count forwards and backwards in tens from any number (not just multiples of 10)

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Count 7, 17, 27, 37 … from a non-multiple starting point
Count backwards in tens from 83
Explain the pattern of adding/subtracting 10

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Try this together

If your child starts at 37 and you ask them to count up in tens, can they say 37, 47, 57, 67 — crossing over into the next hundred without getting stuck?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Counting in 2sages 5–7Counting in tens from any number builds on skip counting in tens from 0

The two digits of a two-digit numberages 6–7Counting in tens from non-multiples requires understanding that adding 10 changes the tens digit

Counting forwards and backwards (age 6+)this skill · ages 6–7

Unlocks

Nothing on the map depends on this yet.

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9M2N04low confidenceYear 2 · Number

add and subtract one- and two-digit numbers, representing problems using number sentences and solve using part-part-whole reasoning and a variety of calculation strategies

AC9M1N04low confidenceYear 1 · Number

add and subtract numbers within 20, using physical and virtual materials, part-part-whole knowledge to 10 and a variety of calculation strategies

AC9M3N01low confidenceYear 3 · Number

recognise, represent and order natural numbers using naming and writing conventions for numerals beyond 10 000

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

MAE-RWN-02low confidenceMathematics K-10 · Early Stage 1

MA2-AR-01low confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 2

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2M2N04medium confidenceMathematics · Level 2 · Number strand

VC2M3N04low confidenceMathematics · Level 3 · Number strand

VC2M3A01low confidenceMathematics · Level 3 · Algebra strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Counting forwards and backwardsages 6–7 Counting in 2sages 5–7 Counting objects to 20ages 5–6 Counting Within 1,000ages 7–8

All Counting & Cardinality skills →