Editor’s Note: Produced in the 1950s by Child Guidance, the Add-A-Count educational toy helped children develop basic math skills. Designed for kids ages 4 to 7, the toy included a plastic scale and 14 weighted numbers with a tiny hook located at the top. The weight of the number combination placed on one side of the scale had to match that of the other side. An incorrect attempt at matching meant that the arm wouldn’t balance. The approach reinforced counting and number recognition skills in a playful and unintimidating manner.
Dave is a toy enthusiast who offers hands-on demonstrations of vintage toys and games through his Lucky Penny Shop YouTube channel.