How to Teach Your Child Subtraction Within 10

The skill that explains what happens when something is taken away. Your child learns that subtraction starts with a group and shows how many remain.

Subtraction shows up naturally when snacks get eaten, toys get put away, or pieces disappear. The goal is helping your child see subtraction as part of everyday life, not a separate math rule.

This understanding supports comparison, problem solving, and later work with larger numbers.

Before You Start

Your child should be comfortable counting up to 10 and adding small groups together.

If addition still feels shaky, spend a little more time there first.

5 Ways to Build This Skill Daily

Snack Takeaway

Start with a small number of snacks. Count them together. Eat one or two and count again. “You had six, you ate two. How many are left?” Watching the pile shrink makes subtraction obvious.

Hide & Seek

Count out 10 objects together. Hide some in one container, the rest in another. Don't let child see how many are in each! Show one container: "Here are 6. How many must be hiding?" Next, let child hide objects and quiz you.

Stair Step Back

Take a few steps up the stairs. Count them. Step back down one step at a time while counting backward. “You were on five, now you are on four.” Bodies help numbers make sense.

Finger Math Movements

Hold up a certain number of fingers. Fold one down at a time. “We had seven fingers up. Now one went down. How many are still up?” Easy to do anywhere.

When your child starts telling you how many are left without recounting every object, they are ready to move forward.

When You Have Focused Time

Subtraction using Addition & Subtraction Learning Board

Set up a subtraction problem on the board. Match the problem tiles to the correct answer tiles. Use the visual dots to see what is being taken away and count what remains.

Cube Break Apart using Snap Cubes by Learning Resources

Build a small cube train. Break off a few cubes and set them aside. Count what remains. Use two colors to show what stayed and what was taken away.

Helpful Resources

Here are resources that will reinforce your teaching in a fun, fresh manner.

Books

Tools (Manipulatives or Toys)

  • Two-Color Counters by Learning Resources: View on Amazon

  • Connecting Cubes: View on Amazon

  • Ten Frame Set: View on Amazon

  • Rekenrek Counting Frame: View on Amazon

  • Splash Math Addition and Subtraction Game: View on Amazon

  • Subtraction Flashcards with Visual Models: View on Amazon

  • Dice (Foam or Wooden): View on Amazon

  • Number Line Floor Mat: View on Amazon

  • Cloud Hoppers Addition and Subtraction Game: View on Amazon

Number Line Hop Back

Build a Number line (floor mat, tape on floor, or drawn with chalk) Start at a number, call out a subtraction: "Start at 9, subtract 4!" Child hops backwards 4 spaces and announces the answer: "5!" Take turns creating subtraction problems for each other.

What’s Next:

Once your child can subtract within 10 and explain what is left, move on to Concept 6: Making 10, where addition and subtraction start working together.