Less Than Zero

Here’s how my four-year-old responded when I threw him a curly math question – it’s cute!

We were trying to teach him to count backwards…

Shuttle Launch
Before zero is.... rocket blaster!

Me : What’s the number before two?
Him : One!
Me : Right! So what’s the number before 12?
Him : You didn’t say ‘before one!’
Me : All right, what’s the number before one?
Him : Zero!
Me : That’s right!

Then, he starts talking about something else, so I interrupt

Me : You didn’t say ‘before zero!’
Him : Before zero??
Me : Yes. What’s the number before zero?
Him : (various strange facial expressions, then) Before zero is ‘rocket blaster!!’

I don’t remember them teaching me that in university!