What age do little one learn to add?

[HugeBabyBoy]

DD was out and said there's six tables.
Yes there are. Can you count them?
1,2,3... 1,2,3... So that's 6 chairs.



She just turned 3. It took us totally by surprise. We had no idea she could add. Is this about the time for this to develop?

[tallanvor]

Depends on the kid. I've known other kids to do it that early, but don't really know how common it is.

[rumblepurr]

My LO just turned 3 is adding up to sets of 3's like 3+3 is 6. It is a little ahead of the game and what most 3.5 and 4 yr old's are doing (up to sets of 4's), but you will find that there is quite a range in abilities and it's based off of what they are around. I home school so he is around a lot of things that most preschoolers are not.

[Erinne]

My 3 year old love that kind of thing. Her favorite "game" is rounding us all up and counting our fingers, 5 per hand times 4 hands is 20 fingers-type thing, but just randomly 5x4=20, she doesn't know. It can be really fun to test the limits of their abilities!

[TalkinBoutMyGirl]

DD started adding at about 3.75 years old. She is ahead of the curve. Starting reading at 3.25 years old.

[happysmileylady]

I was five. It's one of my clearest memories before starting school. I was walking from the living room to my bedroom. I was counting my fingers, though I don't know why. I counted five on one hand (duh lol) and five on the other, then counted them together. I actually remember that light bulb going on in my head and realizing the concept of addition, as I crossed the doorway from the hall to the bedroom. I can't explain why the memory is so clear and embedded in my brain. But I know I was five, it was the summer before I started Kindergarten. It was early summer.

I don't remember however, when my oldest learned. My 4 yr old is just getting the concept now. I can see her working it out as she counts things. She is still having trouble counting past about 15 though.