Research has shown that infants appear to be born with an ability to discern the difference between two and three objects. The jury is out on how they do it (space taken up? actual object discernment? some sort of counting mechanism not dependent on counting words?). It also turns out that the first number many children learn is “two,” and that this occurs right around their second birthday. It may be a combination of exposure to pairs (eyes, ears, feet, hands) or the fact that they can actually count how many years old they are. Whatever the reason—this is the beginning of the exciting world of number development!