Numbers and counting are naturally a part of your child’s day. From counting their toes to saying, “One, two, three, go!” while playing in the yard, he is already observing and gathering information about numbers. Math is another avenue for your preschooler to understand and make sense of their world. Learning opportunities that incorporate play and discovery within a meaningful context will help your child to engage with math and develop a positive attitude toward it. The concept of numeracy is an easy and practical place to begin.

Young children learn best through fun activities, building the problem-solving skills they’ll use as older students in their math lessons. Below are some simple and fun math games that will help teach the names of numbers, what they look like, how to count them in order, and how to match a written number to a quantity. All these activities support number recognition and provide a base for young children to learn while having fun. These different math skills are precursors to the more advanced math concepts they will encounter later, promoting a deeper understanding of math as he builds on these early abilities.

Simple Math Activities

Count As You Go

Count as you walk up the steps, eat berries, pick up sticks, put away blocks, or brush your teeth.This is a fun way of preparing students to recognize numbers in everyday situations, where children begin to understand counting and number sense.

Songs and Rhymes

Songs and rhymes that incorporate numbers such as Ten in the Bed, Five Little Ducks, The Ants Go Marching, Counting Bananas, and Five Little Monkeys introduce the concept of counting up or down.

Domino Dot Game

Write the numbers zero through twelve in order on a sheet of paper. Have your preschooler select a domino, count all the dots, and then circle the corresponding number. Play until he has found all the numbers. If he counts the same number more than once, have him point to the number. This math game promotes number sense by connecting quantity to visual representation.

Read Counting Books

Read counting books together. Encourage your child to say aloud the numeral on each page and then count the objects on the page with you by touching each picture as he counts.

One, Two, Three, Go!

This game requires two players, a sheet of paper with the numbers 0-10 written on it, and a pencil. It is played like the Rock, Paper, Scissors game except that you say, “One, Two, Three, Go!” at which time each player holds up as many fingers on one hand that he chooses. Then have your preschooler count all the fingers that show. Next, have him point to the number written on the sheet of paper.

Numbers around the House

Write numbers on small round stickers and together label items around the house. For example, put the number 12 on an egg carton to show a dozen eggs, 2 on a pair of socks, 6 on a bowl with six apples in it, etc.

Number Spies

Go out for a walk to look for numbers on mailboxes, doorways, and signs. Take turns pointing them out. For a fun twist, add on a counting rule. Once a number is called, count up to that number by counting items that you see, such as trees, cars, telephone poles, people, or animals.

Munching Numbers

Write the numbers one through 12 on the bottom of paper muffin liners and place them in a muffin tin; alternately, wash and label the compartments in an empty egg carton. Have your child count out the right number of small crackers, pretzels, cereal pieces, or fruit into each cup. As an extra challenge, have him try counting backward as they eat, and each piece disappears one at a time. This activity can also be done with other safe, age-appropriate items to count, such as cotton balls, pebbles, craft pom poms, small erasers, or dry pasta.

When introducing numbers to preschoolers, keep in mind that each child progresses at their own pace. Some children may catch on quickly, while others need more time. Repetition is important when introducing numbers and counting. Children who are actively engaged and exposed to numbers in a variety of ways will develop a better understanding of math because they have been given time to explore, discover, and make connections. With the help of math games and fun number activities, preschoolers stay engaged as they gradually build a deeper understanding of numbers, quantities, and how they relate. This hands-on approach supports a well-rounded learning journey that will serve them well in their future studies.