Table 1.

Examples of each type of parent number talk.

Type of parent number talk	Example
Counting with present objects, small sets (1–3)	One, two bees. [pointing to pictures in a book]
Counting with present objects, large sets (4–10)	We got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight more hats. [counting blocks with pictures of hats on them]
Counting without present objects, small sets (1–3)	One, two, three, whoo! [mother picks up child]
Counting without present objects, large sets (4–10)	One, two, three, four, five. [playing hide-and-go-seek]
Cardinal values with present objects, small sets (1–3)	Oh, you got two bugs. [child holding two stuffed animal bugs]
Cardinal values with present objects, large sets (4–10)	Four sticks. [child holding four drumsticks]
Cardinal values without present objects, small sets (1–3)	We never really get through one whole story.
Cardinal values without present objects, large sets (4–10)	Mom said four songs and we did four songs.
All other	High five!