20 WAYS TO GET YOUR PRESCHOOLER TO LEARN NUMBERS

Teaching your child numbers is one of the most basic concepts he can learn. So let's make the start of their learning journey fun for them and full of sweet memories.

1. Use Flashcards

As easy as it is, this is the most simplest way to memorize numbers. You can download your free copy of number flashcards here. Every day just flash the number card and say its number aloud. And again, but this time say it together as it is being flashed.

2. Use Sandpaper Numerals

sand paper numbers

Sandpaper numbers are a great way to introduce writing numbers and learning the number formation through the sense of touch and sight. These easily DIYable by using card stock like a cereal box, then gluing a nice coloured paper of your child's preference on top and cutting it out into 6cm x 6cm squares. Then the next step is to stencil numbers 0 to 10 onto sandpaper card you can buy at a craft store and cut out with scissors the numbers and glue onto the square cards and the final step is place a sticker onto the starting point to trace the number. This will help with number recognition and with writing it out.

3. Use Playdoh

Free download

A hands on activity that your child will love to do. You can download and print your free copy of Play-Doh make and trace number flash cards here. Use these large flash cards to make and trace the number using Play-Doh with its quantity.

4. Play hide and seek with Post it Notes

This is a fun game to play with your child, all you have to do is write down numbers 1 to 10 on post it notes or if your child can write let them do it. And get them to wait outside the room whilst you hide each number for them to find, the sticky post its can be stuck on high or low on walls, doors, lamps, shelves etc. Then you would call them in and call out a number for them to find. I would have another set of numbers 1 to 10 in a bag and pull one out for them to find or match with.

5. Use Floor Chalk

Outdoor fun with numbers, sunshine, sister and chalk.

6. Use Jenga

Thumbs up for being resourceful. It's great to be resourceful and find multiple uses from one material. Here we used wooden Jenga blocks for counting. 

7. Make My First Number Book

A cool project you and your child can do over a period of time, creating their first number book. Be creative by using pop-ups, different textures and materials and fun pictures that interests them. Discover more about this project here.

8. Get your stamps out

Your child will love this stamping activity. Get out your choice of stamps and paper, and have your child stamp out the correct amount for each number. We made a small number booklet for his stamps, as he likes to fold and cut paper and staple them together to make his very own booklet, then I would instruct him to write the numbers in order from 1 to 10 on every left facing page so that the right facing page is used for stamping.

9. Use Hole punching

Your child will enjoy seeing the aftermath of hole punching, there's something quite satisfying about it.

10. Match Number of Spots on a Ladybirds

Ladybug Number Mat

A fun hands on activity for mummy and child to work on number recognition and quantity. Download your free ladybug number bug mat here.

11. Use counters

An activity your child would love to do over and over again. Using counters will help them with number recognition and quantity. Print out your Montessori colour coordinated number flashcards here.

13. Match the ladybug to its leaf

Nom, nom match your ladybug to its leaf. Easy DIY with kids, using self drying modelling clay to make into  ladybugs, painted and adult would make the markings with black permanent marker. 

14. Use lollipop sticks

This is a very simple DIY with materials you likely have in your classroom. It requires numbers, disposable coffee cups and 55 lollipop sticks. 

15. Use pegs

Another DIY, all you need are printed laminated cards of the number and star to mark the quantity, since I don't have a printer at home, I cut out 3cm by 5cm yellow paper and stamped on each number and stuck on blue stars accordingly, then laminated. You will need 55 wooden pegs that are easy to open and close for your child. This activity controls errors because the stars directs the child to place that amount of pegs for the number, if the counting has been incorrect, at the end they will have insufficient amount of pegs or some left over.

16. Thread Beads on Pipe Cleaners

Hooray for DIYs. For this smart looking DIY that will attract your child to learn numbers you will need, 10 pipe cleaners, foam sheets, wooden numbers, large shiny golden beads and a glue gun. I cut out 10 circles just large enough to fit my wooden numbers and put them on alternate colours, you can use the classic red and blue colour, the reason for this is for later on when they learn about odds and evens. The next step is to use your hot glue gun to glue your number onto the center of the circle, then once that has dried the 3rd step is to glue the pipe cleaner to the back of the circle. This will hold everything together nicely and will be strong enough so that your child can't accidentally pull apart. The pretty white holder is a plant pot from ikea, I use it to hold the beads and pipe cleaners and place it on a shelf for my DS3 to use.

17. Play Number Bingo

What better way to build reading and counting skills. This a game for all the family. It is called Zingo, Number Bingo 1-2-3. they have two levels of play focus on counting and addition. You can find it here.

18. Sing number songs

Five little speckled frogs, sat on a speckled log

Number songs are a sure way to learn about number order. It is a tactic they implement when placing down the numbers in the correct sequence by slowly singing the song they have memorized. We also sing number songs that count down so my DS is well familiarized with the number order forwards and backwards. 

19. Make a Wall display

Make a wall display together. We painted and I cut out the numbers on top of card to reinforce it.

20. Play smack that number!!

My DS3 loves this game, it allows you to move about and think fast. We cut out 10 circles in varying colours and numbered them 1 to 10, stuck them high and low far and wide on a empty wall or you can use the whole room, then I would call out a number and he would have to smack that number, this helps with number recognition. My son learnt his numbers fast and accurately this way.

I hope that you have enjoyed these ideas and have been inspired to try some out. Subscribe for more and comment if you have an idea to share.