Maths · Counting and colouring worksheet
Count to 20: Ladybird Spots — Free KS1 Counting Worksheet
This free printable helps children in Year 1 practise counting a set of objects accurately and writing the matching numeral. The friendly ladybird gives plenty of round spots to count, while the colouring task keeps younger children engaged and builds fine motor control. It prints neatly onto a single A4 page.
The worksheet supports the Year 1 expectation to count, read and write numbers to at least 20. Counting real, separated objects (here, the ladybird's spots) is one of the most reliable ways to secure one-to-one correspondence before children move on to abstract number work.
Count to 20: Ladybird Spots
Free Maths worksheet · Ages 5 to 6
Activity 1
Count the spots on the ladybird carefully. Touch each spot as you count it. Then write how many spots there are altogether in the box.
- How many spots are on the ladybird altogether?
- How many spots are on the left wing?
- How many spots are on the right wing?
Activity 2
Colour the ladybird. Colour each spot as you count it so you do not count the same one twice.
- Colour the ladybird's wings red.
- Colour each spot black, colouring one spot at a time as you count.
- Colour the head and antennae black too.
Count to 20: Ladybird Spotsowee.worldAnswer key
- How many spots are on the ladybird altogether? — Count all the spots in the picture and write the total (a number to 20).
- How many spots are on the left wing? — Count only the spots on the left wing and write the number.
- How many spots are on the right wing? — Count only the spots on the right wing and write the number.
What this worksheet teaches
The core skill is one-to-one correspondence: touching or pointing to each spot exactly once while saying the number names in order. Children then record what they have counted by writing the numeral, linking the spoken count to its written symbol. Because the spots are drawn as clearly separated shapes, the picture makes the abstract idea of 'how many' concrete and easy to check. The colouring task is more than decoration — colouring each spot as it is counted is a natural way to keep track and avoid counting the same spot twice.
How to use it at home or in class
Encourage your child to touch each spot as they say its number, rather than counting by eye, which often leads to skipping or double-counting. If they lose their place, suggest colouring each spot a moment after counting it so they can see what is left. Once they have written the numeral, ask them to count again to check — re-counting and getting the same answer is a valuable habit. For an extra challenge, ask what one more or one fewer spot would give, which gently introduces counting forwards and backwards from any number.
Common counting errors to watch for
At this stage children commonly miscount in predictable ways: starting the count from 'two' instead of 'one', counting an object twice, or losing track in a crowded picture. They may also reverse digits when writing teen numbers — writing 'twelve' as 21, for example. None of these signal a problem; they are normal steps in learning. Modelling careful pointing, encouraging re-counting, and praising the process of checking rather than only the right answer all help these errors fade with practice.
Linking to the wider curriculum
Counting a defined set of objects underpins almost all early number work, from place value to early addition and subtraction. Once children can reliably count to 20 and write the numerals, they are ready to compare quantities ('which has more?'), order numbers, and begin counting in tens. Activities like this one also build the confidence to count in everyday life — steps on the stairs, peas on a plate, or, indeed, spots on a real ladybird in the garden.
Frequently asked questions
What age is this count to 20 ladybird worksheet for?
It is aimed at children aged 5 to 6 in Reception and Year 1 (KS1). Confident younger children and those needing extra counting practice in Year 2 will also benefit from it.
Is the worksheet free to print?
Yes. The worksheet is completely free, prints to a single A4 page, and can be used as many times as you like at home or in the classroom.
How does counting spots help my child learn numbers?
Counting clearly separated objects builds one-to-one correspondence — saying one number name for each object — which is the foundation of all early number work. Writing the numeral afterwards links the count to its written symbol.
What should I do if my child keeps miscounting?
Ask them to touch and colour each spot as they count it, then re-count to check. Miscounting is very common at this age; careful pointing and gentle re-counting usually resolve it with practice.
Does this match the National Curriculum?
Yes. It supports the Year 1 objectives to count to and across 100 and to count, read and write numbers in numerals, focusing on the foundational range of numbers to 20.
Curriculum links
- Year 1 Number and place value: count to and across 100, forwards and backwards, beginning with 0 or 1, or from any given number.
- Year 1 Number and place value: count, read and write numbers to 100 in numerals; count in multiples of twos, fives and tens.
- Year 1 Number and place value: given a number, identify one more and one fewer.
- Year 1 Number and place value: identify and represent numbers using objects and pictorial representations.
- EYFS Number (Early Learning Goal): count objects, actions and sounds, and have a deep understanding of number to 10 (supporting the move towards 20 in Year 1).
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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