Number sense is a term used to describe a persons ability to understand, relate, and connect numbers. It is a group of skills that allow people to work with numbers and is considered to be of prime importance for children in early elementary education. Some key components of number sense include understanding quantities, grasping concepts like more and less, and understanding the order of numbers in a list. Good number sense helps children manipulate numbers to make calculations easier and gives them the confidence to be flexible in their approach to solving problems.

Number sense is important because it promotes confidence and encourages flexible thinking, allowing children to create a relationship with numbers and be able to talk about math as a language. It is also a foundation for mathematical understanding and contributes to general intuitions about numbers, laying the groundwork for more advanced skills.

To develop number sense, children need opportunities to explore and play with numbers, visualize numbers in different contexts, spot relationships between numbers, and predict patterns. Teachers and parents can help promote number sense by using tools like number bonds, estimating, and counting with understanding.