Backward Counting for Kids
- Updated on 03 Nov 2022
- Maths
- Prakriti Dhodare
- 1 min read

Table of Contents
There are many basic concepts that kids must learn at an early age. It makes their life simpler such as counting. The idea of counting helps kids to count many things and promotes mathematical skills. Forward counting is necessary to learn for kids. But have you ever thought that counting backwards is also a part of the academic curriculum that kids must know? In this article, you will learn about backward counting and how your kid can understand it easily.
What is Backward Counting?
Backward counting is decreasing one number each time from the count. It is also called reverse counting. When your kid is reading any book, they will turn a page every time they finish reading one page. But when the kid turns pages backwards, they will learn about backward counting very easily.
Backward Counting Example
Suppose there are 12 bananas, and the monkey eats one at a time. It means every time one banana is reduced. Count bananas each time when the monkey is eating. It might help you to understand backward counting numbers.
Backward Counting 100 to 1
Let’s Explore Reverse Counting 100 to 1.
100 | 99 | 98 | 97 | 96 | 95 | 94 | 93 | 92 | 91 |
90 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 86 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 81 |
80 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 71 |
70 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 61 |
60 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 51 |
50 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 |
40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
How to Teach Backward Counting?

Teaching backwards counting to kids can be tricky. But you can teach them some engaging backward counting activities. Let’s explore some of the activities.
1. Hide and Seek
Playing hide and seek is an excellent idea to teach kids about reverse counting. Ask a kid to count either from 5 or 10. It can be a perfect practice to teach about it.
2. Hopscotch
Mark out a track on the floor and write numbers from 1 to 10. Ask your kid to jump from the largest to the smallest number.
3. Building Towers Backwards
Take some construction toys with numbers written on them, for example, LEGO. Start building it with the largest number. It will show the backward numbers.
4. Pass the Ball Count Down
Take a ball you pass around the circle. The first child says’ 10 ’ (or the number you are starting from). The second child says ‘9’, and so on.
5. Dance Counting
Put a random song and do some easy steps. Chant the numbers backwards with the music. This will help your kid to learn reverse counting.
Conclusion
Learning the concept of “forward counting” is a priority for children. As they learn about counting, it might be easier for them to learn about relatable theory. It makes them more confident about academic curricula. Once they become confident, you can also teach backward counting. It is easy to write backward counting, but orally, it is tricky. This article might help you make this concept easier for children.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Write backwards counting 50 to 1.
Answer: Here is the backwards counting from 50 to 1.
50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
2. Write backwards counting 10 to 0.
Answer: Here is the backward counting from 10 to 0.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0
Read Also…
Counting Numbers Using Abacus Class 1 Maths
NCERT: Math-Magic Solutions for Class-2, Chapter-4: Counting in Tens