What Is Number Sense (and Why Building Number Sense Matters)

You might have heard your child’s teacher mention “number sense” and wondered what on earth they were talking about. When we talk about number sense, we’re really talking about a child’s sense of numbers—their size, how they work, how they relate to one another, and how they can be used in different ways (Howden, 1989).

Children with strong number sense don’t just memorize facts or procedures. They have a sense of the size of numbers and their relationships to each other, and decide which strategy makes sense for a given problem. It’s what allows kids to say things like, “I know 8 + 7 is 15 because 7 + 7 is 14 and I just need one more so that’s 15.” 

Number sense develops gradually through exploring numbers, visualizing them in different contexts, and relating them in different ways. Number sense grows from meaningful experiences, not tricks or shortcuts.  It’s the foundation for all later math learning. Without it, even basic operations can feel like just memorizing meaningless steps.

Why Building Number Sense Matters

When children develop number sense, they truly understand what numbers mean and how they work together. They can reason through problems instead of memorizing procedures, and they begin to see how different ideas in math connect.

Building number sense in early and middle elementary years helps children see math as something logical and connected, rather than mysterious or rule-based. It’s what turns math from something to “get through” into something they can truly think about and use, and maybe even really enjoy!

As children’s understanding deepens, their confidence grows naturally. They trust their thinking because they know why their answers make sense. And that foundation supports every part of math that comes later, from fractions to algebra and beyond.

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Simple Ways to Build Number Sense at Home

You don’t need fancy tools or apps to help your child develop number sense. Here are a few easy ways to start:

1. Talk about numbers in daily life.Ask questions like “How many crackers do you want?” or “Which pile has more?” or “Hmm, we have 4 forks, but we need 6. How many more should I grab?”  or “What do you notice about how those donuts are arranged in the display case? What are some ways we could figure out how many there are?” These small conversations help kids connect math to their world. 

   
   

2. Encourage flexible thinking.When your child solves a problem, ask, “How did you think about that?” and “Can you think of another way?”  This shifts the focus from just the answer to your child’s thinking, which provides powerful benefits.

   
   

3. Play with quantities.Use blocks, snacks, or even socks to make groups,combine and separate groups, compare amounts, and notice patterns. Counting and grouping help children see how numbers relate to one another.

   
   

4. Estimate often.“How many steps do you think it takes to get to the mailbox?” or “About how many crackers do you think are in the box?” Estimating helps children develop a sense of reasonableness and scale.

   
   

5. Give your child opportunities to engage with math questions beyond workbooks.

   Check out the questions in our Math Thinking Monday series. These questions are intended to be friendly, open-ended, and easy to use in your everyday life, whether that’s during dinner time or while you’re waiting in line at the store.

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The Takeaway

Number sense is a powerful tool for our children. It grows from meaningful experiences—not tricks or shortcuts. When we give children time to think, explore, and talk about numbers, we’re helping them build the understanding that makes all future math learning possible.

References:

Howden, H. (1989) Teaching Number Sense. Arithmetic Teacher, 36(6), 6-11.