Your child checks a short sequence of moves against a clear goal. They need to understand step order and moving one numbered space forward or backward. The whole path is written on screen.
How to play
- Read the path, start, and target together. Trace each move in order, saying the space reached after it.
- Ask your child to choose the move that sends the marker away from the target. Replace that move with one step forward and check the final space together.
You will need
- No materials needed.
Path: 0 → 1 → 2 → 3. Start at 0; target is 3. “Forward” moves one number higher; “backward” moves one number lower. Move 1: forward, 0 → 1. Move 2: forward, 1 → 2. Move 3: backward, 2 → 1. You finish at 1 instead of 3. Which single move is wrong? Change it to forward to reach 3.
Well done! That is right. After two forward moves you are at 2. Move 3 goes backward to 1; changing it to forward takes you from 2 to the target, 3.
Not quite yet. Trace the first two moves to space 2. Which move takes you away from space 3?
Answer and explanation
After two forward moves you are at 2. Move 3 goes backward to 1; changing it to forward takes you from 2 to the target, 3.
Make it easier
Point to the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3 as you read each move aloud; pause at space 2 before the last move.
Make it more challenging
Ask your child to explain why changing either of the first two moves to backward cannot reach space 3.
Play on screen. If you act out the path, use a clear floor area and have an adult supervise the movement.