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There Are 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, but How Many Pandas Can You Spot?

Why This Post?

My friend Petra shares interesting facts on Facebook and Instagram under the name (bes)korisno znanje, which roughly translates as (un)useful knowledge. We exchange interesting facts we stumble upon quite often. About a week ago, she texted me: Human brains can recognize 4 items without counting, but everything over 4, we need to count. Of course, as soon as I read her message, I thought, well, that will be a nice game, so… Here’s the game and the post, if you’re into scientific details.

Why Subitizing

In case you didn’t know, subitizing is our innate ability to automatically recognize small quantities, typically up to 4 items, without the need to count. This happens rapidly and effortlessly, within milliseconds of seeing a small group of objects.

Subitizing is basically “seeing or spotting things at a glance”, unlike counting, which requires our conscious and sequential effort. This process occurs because the brain recognizes small quantities as a whole. However, larger quantities increase the cognitive load which then triggers the brain to start counting.

This concept is also related to other terms we previously discussed in our post, such as numerical cognition – the ability to understand and process numbers, visual working memory, and chunking – grouping items into manageable units.

If you’re into history, let’s check out some subitizing milestones. Back in 1949, Kaufman, Lord, Reese, and Volkmann defined subitizing as a separate skill from counting and established the limit of 4 items for subitizing that we are discussing today. Their research laid the foundation for understanding numerical processing in humans.

In 1997, cognitive neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene proposed that humans have an innate “number sense” that enables quick recognition of quantities, especially small numbers – the so-called “number sense” theory. This theory linked subitizing to evolutionary survival, suggesting that early humans relied on it to identify threats or resources in small groups.

In more recent times, a study involving over 3,600 American kindergarteners found that children with stronger subitizing abilities also demonstrated better arithmetic skills in first grade. This means that subitizing plays a foundational role in numerical education. Similar results were also confirmed by Yun et al., who also studied the relationship between subitizing and early math performance.

When it comes to pure science, brain imaging studies reveal that the parietal lobe is activated during subitizing tasks. This highlights its importance in processing quantities.

Perhaps you didn’t know, but here’s a fun fact – certain animals such as birds, monkeys, and dogs, can recognize small quantities without counting, and pigeons alone can distinguish between groups of 1 – 3 items.

And while subitizing helped early humans survive by quickly assessing the number of prey, predators, or group members, today, this skill is used in completely different contexts. We use it in daily activities such as shopping, when we need to estimate our groceries, or perhaps assess how many people are waiting in line at the cash register. It is also crucial in video games, where players must make rapid decisions based on a quick visual scan, such as spotting groups of enemies or resources. (Though, this sounds a bit like the early purpose of the skill, don’t you think?) And obviously, since subitizing is related to early childhood development milestones, it logically has a central role in educational games.

Why This Game?

What can I say, I like challenges. If you’re asking why pandas – I like them, too.

This game offers several challenges. Firstly, you must process fleeting visual cues quickly to detect how many pandas appear. Next, you must employ sharp focus to retain the visual count for a few moments before entering your answer. This trains your working memory and strengthens cognitive skills, as we saw in similar games earlier. Plus, there’s the benefit of honing your subitizing skills and overall cognitive skills, which can enhance your numerical intuition.

Now, about those pandas… This simplified game for practicing subitizing and counting skills is pretty straightforward. You’ll see a certain number of pandas flash before you. You need to guess the number and enter it in the designated blank. If you make a mistake, the game is over. If you get it right, you build up your streak with correct answers.

Wishing you lots of focus and lots of fun – let’s play! 😊

How many pandas can you spot? 🐼

How many pandas did you spot?

What’s your best streak?

Get in touch, and let us know!

If you like this post, game, or just pandas – share the joy with your friends and family.

And remember – keep your mind sharp and your smile brighter. 😉

Creator of all things artsy & craftsy & creative. Teacher, Entrepreneur, Coach. Author of The Essential 52, Mastermind behind PREXcoaching®, Ubiquitous Overlord for close friends.

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