Teach Preschoolers Numbers
Activities to Make Learning about Counting Fun
Preschoolers are full of fun and helping them learn should be fun too. The more interesting and appealing an activity is to a child, the easier it will be for them to remember what they have learned.
Counting With Children
Counting activities can be done anywhere. These ideas don’t require a lot of time or equipment.
- When playing games with children simply counting, “One, Two, Three Go!” is a great way to help teach them their first numbers.
- Encourage the preschooler who has learned to count to three, to learn to count to four, and then to five, etc... Keep adding numbers whenever the child has mastered earlier ones. “One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six…” It’s always fun to keep the child guessing when you are going to get around to saying “GO!”
- How many times can you… Ask the child how many times they can perform a simple task, such as jumping up and down, or spinning in a circle. Help them count the number of times they perform the task without losing their balance or falling down. (lots of giggling goes well with this game!)
- Counting M&M’s or any favorite treat, is always good fun too. Ask the child how many… How many are there? How many would you like? How many do you think you can eat?
Understanding Numbers
Understanding that the names of numbers represent an amount of something is a significant milestone for preschoolers. Using manipulatives gives the child a visual image of “how many” and helps them to associate the number’s name with the amount of things it represents.
- Whenever you give the child something, gummies for instance, say “I’m going to give you 4 gummies.” Then count them one by one into the child’s hand.
- Ask the child if he/she can give you 4 gummies, too. Help the child count the right amount back to you.
- Have a number race with the child. To do this you simply have to see who can find 1, 2, 3, 4 or any other number of things first.
- How many things can you hold? This can be a fun game to play with little ones. Simply have a large number of items available (such as soft stuffed animals) and ask your child how many they think they can hold in their hands (without dropping any!) As you hand the child each thing count, one, two, three, four, etc…
- If you have the opportunity to go shopping with the child, ask him/her to help you with your shopping. Assign the child small tasks like getting 2 cans of carrots, or one can of pears. Help them count the right amount and place the items into the cart.
Teaching Number Symbol Identification
Once your child has mastered some early counting skills, he/she can begin to learn to identify number symbols.
- Show the child the number 1, and say the name of the number. Ask the child to show you how many one is. Do the same with other numbers the child has learned.
- Have a number hunt with your child. Look for all the 1’s in your house, or all the 2’s or 3’s. You will find these in the most unusual places, on cans and boxes, papers, books, even on appliances and furniture tags.
- Make or buy a set of index cards with the numbers 1-9 printed on them. Play matching games, and games that require the child to count the correct number of any object, such as Cheerios.
Preschoolers have to learn numbers, so why not make it fun? Teach your preschooler the alphabet with fun activities, too.
