Pick and Count:

Fill a divided dish with a variety of small items, like toys or snacks. Then, draw big circles on a large piece of paper and write a number in each one. (You can also place a number of dots in some circles instead of a number.) Next, let kids choose a circle and count out items from the dish to put into it, matching the number of items to either the number or amount of dots they see in the circle.

Make sure they count out loud as they go. This simple activity from Engaging Littles is one you can repeat over and over, increasing the numbers as kids get older.

Uno-Movement:

This game from Still Playing School is going to become your preschooler’s favorite! Assign a motion to each color–for example, red cards mean hop on one foot or green means twirl around.

Take turns flipping over a new card from the deck, then complete the motion for that color the number of times indicated on the card. In other words, if you draw a red “8,” you hop on one foot eight times, counting out loud as you go.

Fish for Numbers:

Use a kiddie pool, water table, or even the bathtub to fish up some number practice! (Remember to supervise kids at all times around water. You can also play this game on dry land.)

Learn how to make foam fish and a DIY fishing rod at Buggy and Buddy. Then float the fish facedown on the water, and let your little one drop in a rod and pull one out. As they do, have them say the number out loud, and practice counting from one up to that number.

There are many ways to use this homemade fishing set. Challenge kids to catch only fish of one color. Or, turn the fish so they’re floating number-side up, and see if your little one can catch the fish in numerical order.

As kids get older, they can practice their math facts by catching two numbers at a time or add up their catches to see who scores the most points.

Cut and Sort Paper Strips:

Give small fingers some fine motor skills practice by having your child cut paper into strips of different lengths.

Then, use the free printable from Kinder Craze (or make your own) and have them sort the strips to see which are shorter and which are longer. They can also sort by color and other attributes.

Number Swat:

Write numbers on sticky notes and hang them on the wall within easy reach for your child. Hand them a flyswatter and call out a number. Watch as they have fun using the flyswatter to swat the correct sticky note with the matching number!

This interactive game is a fun way to reinforce number recognition and improve your child’s fine motor skills at the same time. You can mix up the numbers or make it a race to see how fast they can find the right one.

Building Brick Math:

When you use toys for hands-on preschool math activities, kids won’t even realize they’re learning. Life Over C’s has free printable cards to use with your building bricks. Children learn to match colors and patterns as they create the numerals, and their fine motor skills get a workout too.

Count the studs (the raised circles) on each brick, and sort them by number, shape, or color. Build towers to compare taller and shorter, or use a marker to write numbers on the sides and put the bricks together in numerical order.

Put together a row of alternating colors in a pattern (red, blue, green, red, blue, green, etc.). Building bricks have so many math applications.

Number Smash:

Write numbers on a piece of paper, then roll balls of playdough and place one underneath each number. Call out a number, and let your child smash the matching playdough ball flat! It’s a fun way to reinforce number recognition.

Number Hop:

Write numbers randomly on the sidewalk with chalk. Then, call out a number and have your child hop onto the correct one. This is a great way to reinforce number recognition while burning off some energy!

Sticker Numbers:

Start by gathering small stickers—these can be star stickers, smiley faces, or any fun designs your child likes. On a sheet of paper, draw or print large outlines of numbers (you can start with numbers 1-5).

Then, encourage your child to use the stickers to fill in the shape of each number, carefully sticking them along the lines. This will help them become familiar with the shape and form of each number while practicing their fine motor skills as they place the stickers.

To add a little extra fun, you can use different types of stickers for each number (for example, using star stickers for number 1, heart stickers for number 2, etc.). As they work, you can talk about the numbers and count together.

For a challenge, once your child has completed a few numbers, you can mix up the pages and ask them to count the stickers to match the number on the page. This reinforces both number recognition and counting skills.

Balloon Pop:

Inflate balloons and write a number on each one. Call out a number, and see how fast your child can find the right balloon and pop it by sitting on it! It’s a loud and exciting way to practice numbers.