Gaze time, the length of time the baby looked, was significantly greater for incorrect numbers of teddy bears up to three, than for the expected number. Obviously, the babies were not counting. Virtually no one can visualize more than five objects without grouping. Western music is written with five-line staffs. When ten lines are needed, as in piano scores, the two groups of fives are separated to make the music readable.
Fingers are a natural fives grouping.
Teach the child the names for quantities 1-5 by asking the child to raise the appropriate number of fingers with the left hand. Show quantities 6-10 with 5 on the left hand and remainder on the right hand. Do this without any counting, only naming the quantities. Tally marks are used in Asia, Europe, Australia, North America, and South America. Tally sticks are simply Popsicle or wooden craft sticks and measure 1 cm by 11 cm.