There was quiet in the room. Not even a fly was buzzing — apparently, it was sleeping somewhere in the wardrobe. A ginger cat named Murkotik was stretched out on the pillow…
Cat Murkotik count from six to ten
There was quiet in the room. Not even a fly was buzzing — apparently, it was sleeping somewhere in the wardrobe.
A ginger cat named Murkotik was stretched out on the pillow. His eyes were half-closed, but his ears were working at full capacity.
He could hear Natasha breathing.
— Oof-f… oof-f… — Natasha was breathing.
— Well, thanks to the tail, everything is fine, — thought Murkotik. — She’s sleeping peacefully. That means the day will be okay too.
He carefully climbed down from the bed — not like a sack of potatoes, but like a real cat: graceful, quiet and dignified.
He went out to the porch. The air there was cool, fresh, as if it had just been washed in morning dew and hung out to dry.
In the yard, by the wattle fence, stood six daisies. White, important, like guards at the entrance to a museum.
Murkotik stopped, tucked his tail, and started counting:
— One… two… three… four… five… six.
He was not in a hurry. Because a cat that hurries — is either hungry or silly. And Murkotik was full and smart.
He already knew: if you want to truly see something — stop. And count.
And here’s the fence. And on the fence — seven grasshoppers.
Green like cucumbers, and just as silent.
— One… two… three… four… five… six… seven, — the cat said quietly.
He didn’t touch them — cats generally don’t like unnecessary movement. The main thing is to know that the grasshoppers are in place. That’s already comforting.
And here’s Natasha. She’s sitting on the steps, drawing with colorful chalks.
Next to her — a bowl of cherries. There were eight of them. Shiny, like buttons on a new jacket.
— Murkotik, do you like cherries? — Natasha asked.
Murkotik didn’t answer. He was busy.
— One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight.
Then he lay down at her feet, rested his head on her knees and began to purr.
Not to fall asleep — so Natasha would know: he is near. Always.
And in the shade under the old linden tree lay nine fallen leaves.
They rustled to themselves, as if whispering: “And what do you think about autumn?”
Murkotik sat nearby, looked attentively, and counted:
— One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight… nine.
In the house, Natasha took out a box of threads — she was learning to knit, and her grandmother happily gave her ten balls of yarn.
— Will you count? — asked Natasha.
Murkotik nodded and, looking attentively, without his paws, counted:
— One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight… nine… ten.
He didn’t play with the balls. Not because he was tired, but because you don’t always have to play to be happy. Sometimes it’s enough — just to lie nearby.
In the evening, Natasha sat down to read their favorite bedtime story about cat Murkotik: learning to count to 5. Murkotik settled nearby and purred slowly, deeply — as if playing a fluffy double bass.
— You counted a lot today, — said Natasha. — But not because you had to, but because you know how to stop.
And counting — it’s not about math.
It’s about daisies that stand still and are not in a hurry.
About grasshoppers that don’t have to jump.
About cherries that you can simply admire.
About leaves that know how to be silent.
About balls of yarn that just lie there.
About a girl who notices.
And about a cat who is near.
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What this fairy tale gives to a child
If you want to support a child in learning without tension, give them a feeling of “I can do it,” create an atmosphere of acceptance and calm — start with such a fairy tale. It has no coercion, no rush and no competitiveness. There is contact, attention, and trust in the natural pace of child development. Counting becomes not a task, but a way to explore the world and be close.
- Forms the skill of counting to ten
Counting is built into everyday situations, close and understandable to a child: flowers, insects, fruits, household items. This helps not just to memorize numbers, but to understand them through experience.
- Develops emotional intelligence
The child observes the reactions of the characters, catches intonations and emotional states — calmness, interest, joy. This forms empathy and teaches to notice the feelings of others.
- Supports sensory development
The plot is filled with vivid images: cool morning, rustle of leaves, multicolored balls. Such details activate the sensory sphere, which is especially important at the age of 3–6 years.
- Develops attention and observation skill
Murkotik counts not mechanically, but by noticing and tracking objects around. This teaches a child to concentrate, keep attention, and see details.
- Helps to reinforce the skill of “slowing down”
Instead of the usual “faster, more, more accurate” — a calm rhythm. The character pauses, observes, and only then counts. This reduces anxiety and forms a careful attitude toward learning.
- Strengthens motivation for learning
Counting is not presented as a duty. It becomes a natural part of play and exploring the world. This is especially effective for children who have low learning motivation or negative experience.
- Suitable for evening reading
The pace of the fairy tale is smooth, the language is soft. This reduces excitement before sleep, creates a sense of safety, helps to gently end the day.
- Strengthens the “child–adult” connection
Joint reading, discussion, finger counting on a picture, play after the fairy tale — all this works to form a stable emotional bond with a parent.
If you want to:
- teach a child to count without pressure;
- support their emotional development;
- create a warm shared routine in the evening;
— this fairy tale is ideal.
Gentle delivery, clear language, images close to preschoolers — all of it works for development through pleasure and contact.