Counting For Kids Games are a great way to promote a love of math. These 3 easy math games will lead your children through the first stages of mathematical understanding.
We’ve got fun counting games for kids to promote one to one correspondence, number recognition and number sentences. It’s good for fine motor skills development and hand eye co-ordination too.
Supplies To Make Counting For Kids Games
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How To Set Up Counting For Kids Games
You’ll love this as it’s so easy to set up:
Cut hearts shapes out of card stock and use Sharpies to label them according to each game detailed below. We suggest starting with just 5 cards and adding more as your child’s skills progress. Have a small container of counters such as plastic hearts for your child to count with.
There are several ways to differentiate these Counting for Kids games for different ages and abilities to support number recognition, one to one correspondence and number sentences.
You might also like to look at our early years exciting and stimulating Fine Motor Counting Activity With Leaves.
Safety note- Small components have a chocking risk, never leave your child unattended.
Counting For Kids Game 1
Developing One To One Correspondence
Children often learn to parrot count out-loud numbers but may not understand the concept of numbers. For example a two year old may be able to count by rote from one to ten but is not able to count out four apples from a bowl. This is because they have not yet developed one to one correspondence.
To develop one to one correspondence mark the heart cards with dots 1-5. Encourage your child to place the correct amount of heart counters on each card to match the dots. Giving them lots of praise and encouragement keeping the game fun. They will need to play this over and over again to really understand the concept of one to one correspondence. and you can introduce more number cards as their confidence grows.
Have a lovely chatty time together encouraging them to talk to you about what they are thinking and discovering. Give them the opportunity to explore and experiment with this counting game as handling the counters will really help them grasp the concept of numbers and build on their sense of wonder and fun to make new discoveries for themselves.
Counting For Kids Game 2
Moving Onto Number Recognition
Once kids can count and match counters to the dots they need to recognise what the corresponding numbers look like. Repeat the names of the numbers with them and ask them to place the correct amount of heart counters on each number. Introduce more number cards as they progress.
Extension Activities
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- Extend the number range to challenge your child.
- Introduce a zero.
- Mix up the order of the number cards. Can the children put them back in order?
- Lay all the cards out and remove one or two. Can they tell you what is missing?
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Counting For Kids Game 3
Stretching Into Number Sentences
When you are sure your child is confident with one to one correspondence and number recognition you can introduce number sentences. Start with some simple addition and introduce math symbols. When they master the concept of addition gently move onto subtraction and multiplication.
Tips for Playing Counting For Kids Games
These Counting For Kids Games are a super way to help your little one love learning math.
We can help our kids develop by keeping early experiences enjoyable and challenging but not too difficult. It’s lovely to encourage them to talk about what they are thinking and discovering.
By giving them the opportunity to explore and experiment with these counting games kids will grasp the concept of numbers and early math through their hands on interaction. It’s fantastic to see their sense of wonder and the fun they have making new discoveries for themselves.
Every Child Is An Individual – The Importance Of Child Led Learning
Remember to think about what interests your child. We have used heart counters but they might prefer using pompoms, scrunched up tissue paper balls, beads, small world figures or toy cars.
Child led learning is always best and an activity set up by an adult should be seen as a starting point. It’s important that we let children be active learners exploring materials in their own way before giving them a structured activity. Giving children the freedom to take the activity in their own direction allows them to truly engage, enjoy and develop their problem solving skills.
Children will often learn and discover in ways that we as adults would not think of.
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