Counting Activities for Preschoolers: Winter Theme

Counting activities for preschoolers can consist of many different ways to introduce numbers and operations. There are many counters and tools for preschoolers to first learn about numbers.

However, engage your preschoolers in various processes to allow a deeper level of learning and fun while learning. Regardless of the method of counting you use, consider how the counting activities will encourage your preschooler to learn numbers.

While young learners may grasp concepts in one way or another, having multiple ways to address counting can help with different learning types. 

Purpose of Preschool Counting

Learning to count in preschool is as fundamental as reading. Children already know how to count. For instance, they count their little finger to figure out how much of things they have.

While counting is an innate behavior for preschoolers, numbers allow them to make sense of the world around them. Besides counting everyday objects, preschoolers also want to know how much of something they have.

Could they have more cereal or cookies than another friend or preschooler?

This perception of counting integrates the idea of amount and comparison. As preschoolers become avid counters, they enter into a deeper level of learning, like operations of adding and subtracting. 

Counting Activities for Preschoolers

From traditional counting activities to playing on apps for math, your preschooler will learn best when engaging in fun ways.

• For instance, a simple game of bingo introduces numbers and labels and motivates them to look for those numbers.
• In the same way, a game of memory matching also encourages your preschooler to seek the numbers and match the labels.
• However, other games can even go further. Whether you use an easy, quick game of bingo or memory matching, supplement that learning using literature, videos, or learning materials.
• Of course, you don’t have to implement all those tasks at once.
• You might want to use a weekly or monthly schedule to introduce, review, and evaluate the process.
• As your preschooler progresses through the learning, you can determine whether you need to apply other instructional methods.

Perhaps, your preschooler learns best while watching a video or you modeling counting. Then, you can supplement learning with materials that address individual or learning in groups. 

Preschool Activities at Home

Practicing at home is the ideal way to continue learning from school. Many preschool activities at home don’t have to be long and tedious.

Include fun ideas that can motivate your preschool to look forward to math time.

• Besides the basic bingo and memory games, you can also use scavenger games.
• For example, use scavenger games to seek for flashcard numbers.
• Also, use foam or paper numbers.
• Next, hide them around the room where the items are somewhat visible.
• You could also play fun music as your preschooler seeks those items.
• Then, when he or she finds the object, you can stop playing the music.
• In this way, you add movement to the learning.
• If you wanted, you could also use magnetic numbers.
• After finding all the numbers, you can ask your preschooler to arrange them in order on a cookie sheet or refrigerator door.

If you have more than one preschooler, you can make it a game. Perhaps, you can ask them to find the numbers and see who has the most, less, or equal amounts.

In the same way as adding movement, you also incorporate numbers sense. Other counting activities for preschoolers could include using dominoes to match numbers or introducing addition, subtraction, and hopscotch.

As with any physical movement in a classroom or homeschool, you also want to use a downtime. This time of rest allows your preschooler to begin to focus on learning. So, take a moment to supplement the teaching with more hands-activities that don’t involve moving like counters or puzzles.

Another way for direct instruction might be providing one-on-one or small group teaching with numbers, addition, and subtraction. Also, to make learning fun, you can use color paper or color print out of worksheets.

Similarly, add a wide variety of writing tools like crayons, markers (washable), or even finger paint to encourage children with sensory and number learning.

You could quickly implement teaching strategies at home for your preschooler to learn to count. Whether you use a theme of seasons or tactile objects, counting activities for preschoolers needs to be fun and engaging.

Ensure your preschooler continues learning with activities you can use anytime. 

These learning materials are useful for families and educators that follow the Common Knowledge curriculum and the Head Start program. The standards assessed in each activity are Goal: Quantify Groups of Objects I-MR4.1a, I-MR4.7, I-MR4.8, II-MR4.1b, II-MR4.9, and II-MR4.10; Goal: Develop an Understanding of Addition and Subtraction II-MR6.1b and II-MR6.3.