How do you count to 5?

[ThatUniqueKoala]

My DS6 was counting using his fingers and it got me curious, using your fingers, do you;

A, Start from thumb to pinkie
B, Pinkie to thumb
C, Index to pinkie and then thumb

Me personally I do A..

I have something wrong with my hands where I can’t raise my ring and pinkie fingers separately.

So I go
thumb,
index,
middle
then I pin my ring finger down with my palm at the base of my thumb to raise my pinkie.
then my ring finger springs up almost immediately.

But to answer your actual question, start thumb side.

1. thumb where index finger joins palm
2. thumb on index finger first knuckle
3. thumb on index finger final knuckle
4. thumb by palm
5. thumb sticking out

Pinkie of left hand. So I can continue and count to 10 if required on my right!

Do you know anyone who does b or c???? Unless it's a cultural thing, like a German 3 not using the thumb, then it's giving me shivers down my spine not starting with the thumb.

Thumb to distal section of little finger
Thumb to middle section of little finger
Thumb to proximal section of little finger
Thumb to distal section of third finger
Thumb to middle section of third finger

In this way I can count to 12 on one hand, 144 on two hands, and 156 by closing a fist.

I think it may make a difference if you are left or right handed. As a left hander I use my left hand to point to the fingers on my right hand. I count left to right so start with my little finger. However if I use my right hand to point to the fingers on my left hand I also go left to right but this means I start with my thumb.
I have just realised that if I count starting with a closed fist and sticking up fingers to count I use my left hand first and start with my thumb. This is clearly a very complex issue 😂

On left hand I start with the thumb, on the right hand I start with index to pinkie with thumb last.

I'm now distraught at being so weird 😩

My earlier post was total bollocks! Have just tried counting something and I do go with thumb first - because of course I turn my hand palm side up

@DeanElderberry ha this made me laugh! And yes I am now sitting here trying it…

I have to do this too! Thumb, pointer, index, little finger, ring finger is how I count.

Thumb on my left hand,then across my fingers.
Tried it on my right, it felt wrong.. but thumb first.
I am left handed

I count to 5 using my right hand only, so thumb to pinkie, then move to the right touching my index and thumb together twice for 4 and 5.

Thumb, index, middle, pinkie, ring finger.

My ring finger just won't come up without my pinkie being up first 😂

I'm told it's weird, I'm weird, but my fingers just can't do it any other way!

I have no need to use my fingers and thumbs to count to 5..... However if I did it would be thumb first. (I've just checked)

It's normal for the ring and pinkie finger to raise together- I believe if anyone can do them seperately it can mean they're hypermobile!

Missing the point but why are you all saying "pinkie"?

Blimey, I'm more normal than I thought. I count easily from left thumb, through to right thumb for 10, using index.

I'm right-handed

I start with thumb on left hand and work my way across the thumb on right hand

And apparently, I'm hyper Mobile, which I didn't know until recently my pinkies have no problem acting alone

I wondered that too, but followed suit sheepishly 😂

Exactly how I do it too!

How do any of you manage hard sums?

Opposable thumbs rock!

My method also makes it very easy to say a decade of the rosary if you're that way inclined.

Erm...

I touch the pad of my left thumb to the palm (just below the little finger) then leave the thumb sticking out and touch the pad of each finger to it in turn. Is that not normal??

B, but I use my thumb to tap each finger. So thumb to pinky 1, thumb to ring 2, etc finishing with thumbs up for 5. I do the same with both hands if I need 10; if counting more I count sections beginning with the pinky like @DeanElderberry (again tapping with the thumb).

Another of those dull, yet fascinating, "Things I've Never Thought About Before" threads 😂

I close my hand to a fist, use my thumb to hold down the fingers, then start with the pinkie (and now that's something else dull but fascinating to consider - why doesn't everyone call it a pinkie?) and open each finger in turn, ending with the thumb.

I have just wasted several minutes trying out the other methods in the thread, before reaching the conclusion that mine is the best 😄

C