Counting became a game in the quiet village of Okpara Waterside. A curious toddler named Oghenekevwe was the pride and joy of her parents in this small village. At just three years old, her bright eyes and inquisitive mind made her stand out among her peers. Her mother, Ejiro, often said, ‘Kevwe is a quick learner; she asks so many questions that I sometimes run out of answers!’
One sunny morning, while Ejiro prepared breakfast, Oghenekevwe sat on the kitchen floor, stacking plastic cups. She counted aloud as she placed one cup on top of another, ‘One, two, three…’ When the stack toppled over, she giggled and started again.
Ejiro watched her with a smile. ‘Kevwe, do you want to learn something new today?’ she asked.’Yes, Mama!’ Oghenekevwe said, clapping her hands eagerly.Ejiro fetched a basket of fruits—bananas, oranges, and mangoes—and set them on the table. ‘Let us play a counting game,’ she said. ‘How many bananas do you see?
‘Oghenekevwe’s tiny fingers moved as she counted. ‘One, two, three… Three bananas, Mama!”Good girl!’ Ejiro praised her. ‘Now, if I eat one banana, how many will be left?’
Oghenekevwe frowned slightly, thinking hard. She picked up one banana and set it aside. ‘Two!’ she exclaimed.’That’s right! You are so smart, my little mathematician,’ Ejiro said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Over the next few weeks, Ejiro and Kevwe turned everyday activities into math lessons. At the market, they counted yams and fish. While fetching water, they measured how many cups filled a bucket. Kevwe even started recognising numbers on her storybooks and in her father’s newspaper.One day, her father, Ovo, decided to test her skills. He placed six groundnuts on a plate and said, ‘Kevwe, if I give you two groundnuts, how many will I have left?’
Kevwe’s eyes sparkled as she carefully counted the groundnuts. ‘You will have… four!’ she said confidently.
Ovo laughed proudly. ‘This girl is going to be a genius! She is already learning subtraction at her age.’As the months passed, Kevwe’s love for numbers grew. By the time she turned four, she could count up to 50, add and subtract small numbers, and even recognise shapes. Her parents knew they had a special child and continued nurturing her curiousity.
Kevwe’s story spread through the village, inspiring other parents to engage their toddlers in playful learning. Soon, counting games, puzzles, and songs filled the homes of Okpara Waterside.Through her simple counting adventures, Oghenekevwe showed that learning begins at an early age and that even the smallest moments—like stacking cups or counting fruit—can lay the foundation for a bright future.
