Numbers art activities for preschoolers

50+ Number Activities for Preschoolers

These number activities for preschoolers include many fun, engaging, and hands-on ways to explore numbers with young children. If you’re looking for math activities for preschoolers and kindergartners that focus on numbers, you’ve come to the right place!

Below, you’ll find a variety of preschool number activities to suit your needs. They let kids practice early math skills like number recognition, number formation, one-to-one correspondence, and counting. There are even a variety of number printables perfect for early childhood classrooms.

And all of the number activities take into account how young children learn. So the ideas encourage hands-on exploration with numbers and manipulatives.

Coming up, you’ll find all of the number-related activities from Fun-A-Day. I’ll keep adding to the list as I share more here with you, so be sure to pop back and check.

Table of Contents

Number Activities for Preschoolers

Click on the links that interest you the most, and be sure to save your favorite ones! I’ve started a new Numbers Pinterest board if that’s where you like saving links.

These number activities will help you teach a variety of important early math skills, like:

One-to-one correspondence
Number identification
Number formation
Matching numerals to quantities
Numerical order
Skip counting
Subitizing

Counting Activities for Preschoolers

We can’t talk about number activities for preschoolers without touching on counting, right? The links below can all be used to practice concepts like those listed above.

While each of these are different math skills, they’re very much interrelated. And, depending on the ages and needs of your students, you will focus on different ones with the following ideas.

Of course, there will be more coming in the future, and I’ll be sure to add the links then.

Preschool Number Printables

As promised, I also have some printables to add to this collection of number activities for preschoolers! While I’m not a fan of preschool worksheets, that usually only serve one purpose, I do rather like printables that can be used multiple ways.

In fact, I have over 40 number printables perfect for preschool and kindergarten classrooms! You can check them out by clicking on the link below:

Free Preschool Number Printables

Like the non-printable number ideas, these printables have been used with kids in both preschool and kindergarten. And they’re all great ways to explore early math concepts. Here are a few of my favorites:

Rainbow Yarn Sensory Bin (with printable rainbow and gold ten frames)
Printable Bat Emergent Reader (that’s all about counting bats)
Snowman Roll and Cover

Okay, I’ll stop there. Since there are so many printable number activities for preschoolers, it’s best if you click through the link above. That way you can find just the right one for you and your kids!

Calendar Numbers

Okay, okay. So I didn’t stop there. Because I wanted to highlight a subset of the number printables. And those are the calendar numbers!

I highly recommend that you grab a few sets for yourself. You can use the number cards in SO MANY ways! They’re super easy to prep, and the illustrations allow for some whimsy throughout the year. Click on the link below to check them out:

Calendar Numbers

I have quite a few more planned out for the upcoming year. So be sure to save that post, too. That way you can get your hands on them as soon as they’re ready!

What is Counting?

Since I mentioned above the various skills these number activities for preschoolers can cover, I thought we’d chat a bit about what the terms mean.

We, as adults, tend to use the term “counting” to cover a few different bases. When it comes to early math, counting means determining the total number of items in a particular group.

Some examples of counting:

Holding up a finger for each year in a child’s age and counting them out loud. “One, two, three, four.”
Placing toy cars out on the table and counting them along the way.
Looking at five kids in line and counting them 1 through 5, sequentially.

So counting includes both numbers and sets of items. And the understanding that the last number said is the total of the items in the group.

What is Rote Counting?

If you’re here, you’re likely a teacher or caregiver of a young child. No doubt you’ve experienced said child practicing their counting (sometimes over and over and over again, right?!).

That’s rote counting – saying the numbers in order. Specifically, rote counting is reciting numbers in order (from memory). There are no specific objects being counted. The numbers are being said out loud in sequential order.

And, as with most things when it comes to young children, there are a few steps along the way to true rote counting. From toddlers saying, “One, three, nine . . .” to preschoolers counting to 20 but skipping 15, children work their way up to counting out loud.

What is One-to-One Correspondence?

One-to-one correspondence is the understanding that every object in a group can only be counted once; that every number corresponds with a specific quantity. It can also be explained as matching one item to one corresponding item or number.

This understanding is developed with lots of playful practice, in many different hands-on ways. Some examples of one-to-one correspondence in early childhood:

Putting a counting bear on top of a toy block – “I have one bear and one block!”
Placing manipulatives in a ten-frame, one frame at a time, with only one manipulative per square
Touching one toy at a time while saying the corresponding number out loud
Moving beads on a string as they’re being counted
Pointing to kids in line, one by one, and counting along the way
Counting each time a child hops on one foot

Most of the number activities for preschoolers included in this post can be used for counting with one-to-one correspondence. The activities help children move from rote counting to rational counting.

Matching Quantities to Numerals

One-to-one correspondence helps children learn that each number corresponds to a specific quantity. Using things like magnetic numbers or printable number cards can help kids move forward with corresponding quantities with numerals.

For example, you might place one of the calendar numbers on the table. It’s the numeral 5. Then your students can count out 5 Unifix cubes, one at a time, counting each one only once. So many early math skills are very much intertwined, so kids are exploring multiple concepts with each of the number activities for preschoolers.

Preschool Supplies for Exploring Numbers

Now that we’ve delved into all the fun number activities for preschoolers you can try out soon, let’s chat supplies. You don’t really have to have a certain type of material to teach kids about numbers. In fact, that’s one of the great things about preschool math – you can use items on-hand or already in your environment.

But, if you are looking for some suggestions, I’ve got you covered (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):

Jumbo number magnets
Counting bears
Unifix cubes
Sandpaper numerals

Now you’ll have to tell me what YOUR favorite number activities for preschoolers are! Leave them in the comments below this post.

Done-For-You Number Activities for Preschoolers

Let Preschool Teacher 101 make your teaching life easier with fully-developed, done-for-you preschool resources. That way you spend more time teaching and living your life, and less time planning!

We’ve got quite a few number-themed math resources that your students will love! They help support your math lessons and allow kids to practice number skills. Click on the images below to read more about a few of our resources:

Fine Motor Numbers: DotsNumber PuzzlesRainbow Writing NumbersNumber Fluency Strips

And be sure to check out The Pack from Preschool Teacher 101, a membership for preschool teachers just like you. With over 100 lesson plans, over 130 supplemental resources, editable templates, trainings, and more . . . The Pack can save you a ton of time!

You can also find us on Teachers Pay Teachers.

20+ Number Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers

Looking for counting activities for preschool? Pick from these adorable 20 hands on number activities for preschoolers all year long. Fun and easy ideas that teach preschoolers number recognition with budget friendly math activities and games.

Plus we’re sharing our favorite number books for preschoolers too!

Teaching numbers to preschool aged children is one of the main concerns of focus for parents and teachers. Below I’ve put together fun ways to learn about numbers with counting activities and number recognition activities for your preschooler.

One fun way to start learning about numbers is to create your own DIY Number Book for Preschoolers.

Number Activities for Preschoolers

Fall Number Activities for Preschoolers

Start off with a fun Number Leaf Scavenger Hunt in your yard or inside the house.

Then grab your sidewalk chalk to collect Fall leaves and play this Chalk Numbers with Leaves.

Next collect acorn with your preschooler to play this Acorn Math Game and Number Printable.

It’s apple picking season! Collect recycled lids to play our Counting Apples Game.

Or grab a few pretend apples to make this adorable Magnetic Apples Counting Game!

Book Themed Number Activities

Can you stack your numbers in order? Try out this Ice Cream Math Game!

Then get inspired Mouse Sidewalk Chalk Number Game and make a sweet mouse headband.

Finally, get inspired by Mouse Count with this Mouse Counting Activity with Lids and a snake!

Want more book themed ideas… visit our Virtual Book Club for Kids Number Week!

Nature Inspired Counting Activities for Preschoolers

Preschoolers love to pretend play, start with this Zoo Animal Counting Game.

Next, explore the yard for sticks and rocks to play a Playdough Flower Number Game

Does your preschooler like to paint? Make math colorful with these Painted Acorn Math Games.

Add a little number fun to snack time with this Muffin Cups Math Game.

Holiday Themed Number Recognition Activities

Take advantage of holiday decorations by making a Number Train Game with Snowflakes.

Then try different holiday items this spring with a cute Easter Egg Numbers Game.

Next, grab a few fuzzy pompons and muffin tin to play Fine Motor Math Game for Halloween

Finally, you can head to the holidays with buttons for this easy Christmas Tree Number Game.

Hands on Math Activities for Preschoolers

Create your own hands on fun with cardboard for this Pancake Numbers Game.

Next look to your toys and how to use them in a new way like with this LEGO Garden Math Game.

In addition to toys use paper to create math games with a Paper Airplane Number Game.

With shapes and a pencil your child can Learning numbers 6-10 with writing!

Look to your outdoor play and explore math ideas with Garden Counting Activity or this Printable Seed Counting & Sorting Activity.

Finally, end all of your preschool number learning by making your own DIY Number Book with photos you and your child took and printed to make a keepsake of all of your number fun together.

Number recognition is just as important as one to one counting. These featured math games and activities will give your child a great start to the development of their math skills.

Want more ideas for your preschooler? Explore our preschool lesson plans.

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Number Books for Preschoolers

On the Launch Pad: A Counting Book About Rockets (Know Your Numbers) by Micheal Dahl

Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert

1-2-3 Peas (The Peas Series) by Keith Baker

Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 (Chicka Chicka Book, A) by Bill Martin Jr.

Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews

10 Little Rubber Ducks Board Book (World of Eric Carle) by Eric Carle

1, 2, 3 to the Zoo: A Counting Book by Eric Carle

Goodnight, Numbers by Alicia Padron

Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh

One Duck Stuck: A Mucky Ducky Counting Book by Phllis Root

Here are 35+ Counting Books for Kids to explore together with your child!

Do you have a favorite number book? SHARE in the comments below…

One of the most important things you can do at home is to start teaching numbers to preschool aged kids. Counting activities give your preschool hands on experience which is important for them to really understand math concepts.

Which number game are you going to make first with your preschooler?

90,000 development games Learn numbers for children

Content

Cards with “Learn numbers”
Cose-ciphera
Cover the correct numbers
numbers
of the game “Learn numbers” for children
NASE!
Make a number
Numbers by numbers
Finders
Pantomime
Laughter
Gymnastics by numbers
Find the mistake 900 with numbers 5 Memory
Coloring numbers
Table games “Learn numbers” for children
Mixed Domino
Print tasks “Learn numbers” for children
Digital Labyrinth
We count on fingers up to 10

Developing games “Developing games” Learn numbers" for children: a selection of fun games and tasks. Print out children's tasks with numbers for preschoolers.

Children aged 2-5 usually do not yet know all the numbers, but only name or “recognize” some of them. Kids confuse a number and a number, a number and a letter, they confuse numbers with each other: zero and the letter 0, G and 1, 2 and 5, 9and 6, 1 and 4, etc. Often violate the sequence between adjacent numbers from a series.

Certain difficulties arise in some children when the result of the count must be indicated by a number or the figure must be correlated with the required number of items.

Lessons "Learn numbers" for preschool children will allow you to easily and quickly eliminate such problems in a playful way.

Here: games for children "Let's learn letters".

Cards with sheep "Learn numbers"

Educational cards - visual material, convenient for explaining any topic. Therefore, it is successfully used in the study of numbers. nine0003

Copy-book numbers

Here: Print additional copy-book numbers for children.

Circle the correct numbers

Lego numbers

Learning numbers games for kids

Name it!

Numbers made from different materials are considered: paper, cardboard, fabric, printed on cards of different sizes and colors, written or printed, etc. In the process of such a lesson, you can find out what numbers the child knows and where he saw them.

Make a number

It is proposed to lay out numbers from circles, sticks, cubes, triangles, mosaics, mold them from plasticine, clay. You can cut out numbers from velvet or plain paper, old newspapers or magazines, fabrics and stick them on.

For plasticine figures there is a wonderful manual - Plasticine account. It will teach a child to sculpt a number and help to remember it by creating an illustration for it from plasticine.

Numbers by cells

It is necessary to paint over the cells, as in the sample, and get numbers from 0 to 9.

Finders

Cards with numbers are laid out on the table. The child receives a card with a number. You have to find yours.

Pantomime

The adult draws a number in the air with his finger, and the child guesses it, then they switch roles.

Laughers

By drawing or drawing, the figures turn into "little men", "animals" or other funny figures.

Gymnastics by numbers

An adult offers (squat, jump) to a child as many times as the number indicates. nine0003

Find the mistake

The child is shown two cards. The kid needs to determine whether the image of the number on one card matches the number of circles, triangles or objects on the other card.

Memory with numbers

The child examines cards with numbers and memorizes them. The adult swaps them. The kid points out what has changed. If any card is removed, the child guesses which number is gone.

Tangram “Numbers”

Sensorics will help you remember writing numbers: write numbers, mold from plasticine, lay them out from buttons, pompons, figurines, sticks . .. Here are the numbers from the tangram. nine0003

More tangram tasks here.

Coloring pages for numbers

You can take coloring pages with numbers and invite your child to color them. The child will be interested in creativity, and at the same time consolidate knowledge about the new figure.

Here: Print out the number coloring tasks.

So that the coloring process does not bore the child, you need to use various interesting techniques for this

paint numbers not only with pencils, but also with paints, wax crayons, stamps; nine0006
lay out numbers from sticks, cubes, mosaics, buttons, peas, pebbles;
model numbers from plasticine,
color with fingers using finger paints;
use non-traditional drawing techniques: cotton buds, crumpled paper, blots, etc.

Board games "Learn numbers" for children

Any walking board games teach counting. Children must understand the number corresponding to the number of dots on the top face of the die that has fallen out, and make the corresponding number of moves forward. nine0003

When your child has learned to easily count up to 6, play with two dice at the same time, so you will train not only numbers and numbers up to 12, but also addition.

Download and print board games for free!

Mixed domino

The difference between this domino and the classical one is that the child must quickly analyze and correlate the written number and the number of dots.

It is difficult to play with paper dominoes; nine0003

Includes 36 dominoes.

Print tasks "Learning numbers" for children

Digital maze

Counting on fingers up to 10

And what tasks for children for learning numbers from the proposed did you like ?

Numbers for children - Preparation for school and developmental tasks for children Mama7ya

Math for kids always starts with numbers. This is the basis of everything. Each number in children will be associated with a quantity. The child needs to see the number itself and the number of objects next to the number being studied. Visualization helps to quickly and efficiently study all the numbers. nine0003

How easy is it to learn numbers with a child?

Place numbers, dots and objects in front of the child. Put the required number of dots and objects next to each number. You can also highlight points and numbers with the same color.

Combined cards can also be used. Show the child a card, first count the dots with him, then the objects that are drawn on the card and show the designation of the number.

Counting sticks are great for introducing children to numbers. After showing the child the number, ask him to lay out the corresponding number of sticks. nine0003

There are many ways to learn numbers in a fun and playful way:

Sculpt numbers and dots with plasticine.
Build Lego figures.
Draw numbers and objects on each separate sheet.
Line up the toys and count them.
Count pencils or markers.
Lay out counting sticks.
Make applications from numbers.
Play hopscotch and jump by numbers.
Cut out the numbers and the corresponding number of items for them. nine0006
Draw numbers and dots on asphalt in different colors.
Draw numbers in sand and snow.
Spread numbers from pasta, and dots from peas.

As you can see, learning numbers with children is quite an interesting process for both children and parents. The form of the game will allow the child to be captivated by the study of numbers for a long time.

Lacing for the study of numbers will help you remember and circle the entire number. It also develops fine motor skills of the hands, which favorably affects the development of the child's speech. Below are stencils for playing and learning numbers. Print out the materials, make holes for each number according to the pattern and show your child how to thread the string while learning the number. nine0003

Below are numbers that you can color with your fingers. Having dipped the boy into the paint, the child will gladly run his finger over the dots. In this way, the child will have fun and interesting to study each number. To study the numbers, match each number with your own paint.

Item count. How many items are in the picture.

Find all the items and count their number. Enter the resulting numbers in the squares.

Let's count how many butterflies are in the picture.

nine0002 How many mushrooms do you see in the picture?

Count all the squirrels in the picture.

Find the swans in the picture and count how many there are in total.

How many balloons are launched into the sky?

The pictures show figures and objects. Connect the objects with the corresponding number with a line.

The picture shows objects. Count them and write down how many objects you see.

Find all the hidden numbers in the picture and say them.

nine0002 Lego math. Lego figures. learning numbers

Digit 1

Number and digit 1

The number 1 is a unit of account and indicates the number of items, i.e. one cat, one boy, one sun.

The number 1 is a character that represents a number and is written as ONE.

The number 1 stands between the number zero (number 0) and the number two (number 2).

Let's show the child the number of toys equal to number 1 and ask: how many objects are in front of you? One doll, one duck, one locomotive, one giraffe, one bucket.

Let's lay out with the child from counting sticks the number one , and then next to it we will put one stick, which will indicate the corresponding number, i.e. number 1 .

Now we have figured out what is the difference between the number 1 and the number 1.

Let's study number and number 1 together with animals. Let's talk with the child about animals and that each animal has one? nine0003

Answer questions about the number 1 and the number 1 :

How many tails does a tiger have? Answer: One tail is a number, and denoted by the number 1.
How many beaks does a sparrow have? Answer: One beak - we will name the number 1, and write the number 1.
How many noses does a cat have? Answer: the cat has one nose (let's say - the number 1), we will also write the answer - the number 1.

Write down the number of apples growing on the tree and say the number.

Answer: One apple grows on a tree (number 1), and we write 1 apple (number 1) next to the picture. nine0003

With the help of the game, the child will develop an idea of the number 1 and the number 1. In the form of a game, classes with children are interesting, fun and memorable.

Let's prepare a handout and repeat the following concepts: large, smaller, small with the number 1 and the number 1.

Let's draw one big Christmas tree on the first white sheet of paper and place a big mushroom under this Christmas tree. Let's say that we see one big Christmas tree (we voice the number 1) and next we write the number 1.

Then we take out the second sheet of paper and draw a smaller Christmas tree and announce to the child that we have drawn 1 smaller Christmas tree (number 1) and sign the number 1 next to it. A smaller mushroom will also grow under the smaller Christmas tree. Voice the number 1 and write the number 1 next to the smaller mushroom.

Now we need a third sheet and on it we draw a small Christmas tree and a small fungus. small Christmas tree, small mushroom, number 1 and number 1.

This lesson reinforces the concepts of large smaller small and the need to use the number 1 and the number 1.

At the lesson number and number 1, the child learns to understand and reinforces the following concepts:

How does the number 1 differ from the number 1.
From what date the counting starts.

Open the picture book and ask the child to list all the items that match the number 1.

Talk to the child again:

Number 1 - we say aloud the number of objects corresponding to this number.

The number 1 is the number representing the number 1, we write the number.

Thus, we have analyzed concepts of the number 1 and the number 1 .

Presentation subject number 1 and number 1 .

Invite the child to circle the large drawn number 1. Then you can offer to circle the number 1 in dots, the copybooks with the number 1 will help in this. And then, after practicing writing the number 1 in dots, the child tries to reproduce writing the number 1 himself.0003

Lesson summary number and number 1 will help in conducting classes and diversify classes with preschoolers and 1st grade students.

This material can be used as abstract for a lesson about the number 1 and the number 1 .

The first acquaintance with numbers and numbers in a child begins with , the number 1 and the number 1 .

After learning the count up to 10, you can start writing numbers from 1 to 10.

When writing each number, you need to approach correctly, show how to write a number and how to connect each element of the number to each other. For clarity, the child can be shown how to spell the number 1: 9 correctly.0003

When you write the number 1 with your child, say the name of the number "one".

To begin with, we put a point from which the writing of zirf one will begin, and then we will place subsequent points to connect with the rest. We will begin our introduction to writing the number one by writing a large version of this number. That is, on a white sheet of paper, we will write the number one in a large size, gradually reducing it in size, and then we will practice writing the number 1 in a school notebook. nine0003

It is better to pronounce and tell all classes in a playful way with a cheerful cheerful mood. The child will immediately become interested in learning numbers and figures. After all, if a fun game helps develop mathematical skills, the child will be happy to join such a game and gain new knowledge.

Plasticine will help to fix the study of the number one well. With the help of plasticine, we make the number 1 and make one circle of the same color. So we immediately involved in the lessons both fine motor skills and logical comparison numbers 1 and digits 1 .

After completing the lesson, we summarize the topic studied and praise the child for his progress in learning the number 1 and the number 1 .

Digit 2

Name the items in the picture:

Two (spoons)
Two (mushrooms)
Two (balls)
Two (handles)
Two (eraser)
Two (rulers)
Two (thermometers)
Two (cats)
Two (dogs)

Draw two circles and two squares with your child.

Find 2 objects in the room and ask the child to name and describe them.

Ask the child to show 2 fingers on his hand.

In the lessons on the number 2 and number 2, we will analyze the following:

Let's introduce the child to the number and number 2.
Find out the location of the number 2 in a series of numbers from 1 to 10.
Let's learn how to compare the number of items equal to the number 2.
We will practice writing the number 2.
Let's teach a child to understand the difference between the number 2 and the number 2.

In the last lesson we got acquainted with the number 1 and the number 1, now we are moving on to the study of the number 2 and the number 2.

There was 1 mushroom in the basket, 1 more mushroom was put in it. As a result, there were 2 mushrooms in the basket. We speak with the child the number 2.

Digit 7

This is what the number seven looks like.