A nifty little tip for counting with bead chains

I don't know if everyone already knows this or not, but just in case you don't . . .

It's a nifty little tip I learned from a local Montessori teacher.  When children are counting using bead chains, it might be easy for them to lose their places or miss a bead.  Even 3 year old fingers are bigger than the bead chain beads.  What to do . . .













The little closure pieces from store bought loaves are bread are the perfect size for little counters.  Here's one of mine I just took off a bag.

I cut it in half,

and tah dah, I have two little bead chain counters.  They are just the right size for little fingers, and the half circle opening just fits in the spaces between the beads.

Happy counting!