What is Subitizing?

What IS subitizing?
Subitizing is the ability to quickly recognize a small number of objects without counting. For example, if you hold up three fingers and your child is able to quickly tell you there are three fingers without counting, then they are able to subitize. Subitizing is an important skill that will support young learners later on in kindergarten and beyond for adding and subtracting. There are many subitizing games to play with preschoolers to help develop this skill, but first, let’s discuss the two types of subitizing.

What is perceptual subitizing?
Perceptual subitizing is the ability to recognize a small group of objects up to five. This is the simplest form of subitizing for young children. Not only should they be able to recognize a small group of objects, but they should also be able to recognize different representations of a given number up to five like the example below.

What is conceptual subitizing?
Conceptual subitizing is being able to combine two groups for a total. For example, if shown two dot cards; one hand with 3 fingers and the other with 1 finger, the child should read the total number of dots by saying 4. This type of subitizing requires a little more skill because children need to see the two groups as a whole. Conceptual subitizing is even being able to see sets of numbers within larger numbers. For example, seeing two threes on the 6 of a die. This is great for beginning addition in kindergarten as children are learning quick ways to add and subtract for math. 

Children need many opportunities to practice their subitizing skill, so I have created these dot cards to support your little learners at home. Download your FREE subitizing flashcards here. 

Interested in subitizing games? Watch this short video.