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Their First

For grown-ups ·

Questions about Their First Counting

Their First Counting is a free counting app for children about 2–5 years old. A child taps numbered places one at a time, and each tap adds one more duck, flower, bear, hop, or strawberry while the number is spoken. Here is how it works.

The counting

What does my child do?

They tap the objects in number order. Each tap fills the next numbered place and the voice says its number. The numbers are printed on the objects, so no reading is needed. There are no levels, scores, or instructions.

What are the five scenes?

Ducks fill numbered places on the pond. Flowers turn from buds into flowers. Train seats teddy bears, one to a seat. Hops sends a frog from stone to stone. Berries fills baskets with strawberries. The scene pictures stay at the top of the screen, so your child can switch at any time.

How high does it count, and who picks the number?

Any number from 1 to 100, in every scene, from the start. A grown-up or child picks it with the arrows on the Count to card. The first time, the app opens on five ducks. After that, it opens on the last number you chose.

What happens if my child taps out of order?

Only the next numbered place counts. Any other place gives a small, silent shake, and the next place is ringed. A place already counted never counts twice. This keeps the spoken number and the printed number the same.

What are the 5 and 10 buttons?

They appear only when the target is above 10. Each adds exactly that many objects, and the voice says the new total. Up to 10, every object is counted one at a time.

How are bigger numbers shown?

In tens. Each raft, flower bed, train carriage, and basket holds ten, and the leftover ones stay in view. Your child sees 34 as three full tens and four more.

What does my child hear?

Only the spoken numbers. There is no music, no sound effects, and no spoken instructions. Tap the Counted number to hear it again. The speaker button at the top turns the voice off.

What happens when a count is finished?

Again and Next number appear. They wait a moment before they respond, so an extra finishing tap does not erase the count. Nothing is scored.

Practical questions

Which languages can we choose?

Nine: English, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Russian, and Tagalog. Korean has both of its number systems: Native (하나, 둘, 셋) and Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼). Use the language button at the top of the screen. It changes both the words on screen and the spoken numbers.

Is it free? Does it work offline?

Every number and every scene is free, with no ads, purchases, or account. The Android app has every recording built in and plays fully offline. In a browser, the first visit needs a connection. After that the artwork stays, and numbers your child has already heard replay offline; new recordings need a connection. iPhone and iPad apps are coming soon.

What does the app remember?

Two things: your language and the last number you chose. Both stay on the device. Counted objects, progress, and scores are not saved. An unfinished count waits while the app is open, and reopening the app starts fresh. See the privacy policy.

Where are the grown-up controls?

In the Android app, press and hold the i button at the end of the top bar for two seconds. It opens four short counting-together tips, links to our website, support, and privacy pages, and a store link for our Their First Words app. In the browser, Leave a tip in the top bar opens a card with the website, support, and privacy links and an optional one-time tip. A tip never unlocks anything.

Where can I get help?

Visit Counting support or email support@theirfirstwords.org. Tell us your device and what happened, without your child’s personal information.