In the younger years, math should be fun. That is why whenever I can teach a math concept with a game, I do! This number recognition game is the bees knees when it comes to teaching your child math in a play based learning way. 

What’s great is it can be adapted for different skill levels. Practice basic addition, subtraction or even multiplication and division. It’s a fun game so any age will enjoy it. Ball Toss is one of many activities in full preschool curriculum. It’s Letter of the Week reimagined and it’s entirely free. Check it out at the button below to learn more.

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Teaching number recognition to preschoolers.

There are more ways than number recognition games for 3-5 year old’s to learn their numbers. Here are 6 ideas to get you started.

Lay the groundwork early.

Simple repetition of hearing the numbers said aloud is huge in setting the foundation for a child to recognize numbers. Count out loud for everything and you’ll already be setting your child up for success. Count the stairs as you walk up them, count the number of squares on the floor in the doctor’s office while you wait, count just to be counting! 

Hide-and-seek is an excellent way to involve your child in learning to count without them recognizing it. Count and have them repeat after you. Familiarizing your 3-5 year old with the names of numbers even if they do not recognize them is the first step. They will naturally begin to associate the quantity of something with the name of the number. 

Apple Math activity.

Teaching number recognition to your 3-5 year old? This Apple Math activity is an easy way to do it. You can simply have your child count out the number of beans on each number to begin. To take it a step further and to help your child practice number recognition then check out the post by following the link. Instructions and the free printable are available to make this activity accessible for you and your child.

Favorite math books.

We love reading in our homeschool. My boys love reading whimsical books as well as factual ones. Better yet is when a factual book can have a playful tone about it. Most children’s books that are teaching math do this excellently. The following two books are our go-to’s for teaching early math.

• Click, Clack, 1,2,3 is a favorite by Doreen Cronin. I point to the numbers as I say them. As well as count each number of farm animals the number corresponds with.

• Ten Apples Up On Top by Dr. Seuss is excellent at teaching the concept of counting. That each number represents a quantity.

Numbers 1-20 recognition printable.

To advance your child’s recognition of numbers up to 20 there is another printable at Yy is for Yarn. This is compact, encourages independent learning, and stores easily. Continue reading for options with a wall display number line.

Number Line Wall Display

Going back to simple repetition. The number line is an excellent way to do this. I also find it is easier when we have a large number line on the wall. Counting and pointing repeatedly, not to exhaustion, but consistently will overtime assist a struggling mathematician. 

The number line wall display can also be turned into a number recognition game. When you call out a number your child finds that number and slaps it with their hand or a flyswatter. 

Explanation of name rules using the number line.

Lastly, the number line wall display makes it easy for me to transition my child to learning 11-20. These numbers can seem complicated because they have two digits which each digit has its own name. But the two digits together makes them have a new name. 

Once you get past this part with your child, now you have to explain that 11 and 12 do not have the word “teen” in them but the rest do. Oh and 13 and 15 are not “three-teen” and “five-teen” like the others where you can say the second digit’s name and then say “teen.”

Although the explanation process seems confusing and is a little long. I have found that after working on number recognition past 10 for a little bit this can help your child memorize the names. My 4 year old was struggling to remember 13 and 15. After explaining the exception rule for these two numbers I could watch his face process “five-teen” then say fifteen as he remembered that it was the exception. 

How to play Ball Toss as a number recognition game for preschoolers.

Materials needed for this number recognition game.

You will need a very large bowl or preferably an umbrella. As well as plastic toy balls that can be tossed in the house. I prefer the plastic balls used in a ball pit but we have used other toy balls as well. A permanent marker and masking tape are also needed to set up the game.

Set up for Ball Toss.

Begin by numbering each ball from 0-10. Place these in a bowl, bucket, or bag that you can’t see into. 

Next, place the umbrella or very large and wide bowl on one side of an open room. Place a line of masking tape along the floor a few strides away from the umbrella, depending on the size of the room. No one is to cross the line.

Play a number recognition game.

Now it’s time to play! You and your child will take turns drawing out balls. They must guess which number is on the ball they pulled out, if they get it right then they get to try tossing it in the umbrella. If they get it wrong then they must return the ball to the bowl.

When it is your turn, draw out a ball and say a number. You can choose to say the correct number on the ball or bluff. Then your child must look at the ball and decide to agree with you or not. This will determine whether you get to toss the ball or not.

Play to whatever score you wish to or however long. Most importantly, have fun!

Adapt Ball Toss away from the number recognition game to suit different skill levels.

Has your child advanced past learning number recognition of 0-10? No problem, this activity is so easy you can write numbers 11-20. 

Is your child past this? Write addition or subtraction problems on the balls. Multiplication or division! When I do these types of math problems I will usually wait until I know what set my son is struggling with and then focus on those. This activity can also be used for letter recognition! The skies the limit, choose something your child might be struggling on and turn it into a game. 

Consider writing on the same ball varying skill challenges for any child who is playing. my eldest could have subtraction problems while my middle kiddo could have letters, and my youngest has his basic numbers. Then when they draw out a ball they find their appropriate problem needing to be solved and solve it.

Letter of the Week

Ball Toss is one activity in a week of learning themed around umbrellas. Why umbrellas? Because during this week your 3-5 year old becomes accustomed to the letter u. They do activities from science to math while learning and reviewing the alphabet for letter recognition. Check out Uu is for Umbrella here if you wish to give your child a fun week of umbrella and rain themed activities. 

Uu is for Umbrella is a part of a 26 week curriculum, Letter of the Week. It has been reimagined for all that home learning has to offer. From field trips to arts and crafts to science and more your child will work through the alphabet learning the letters along the way.

Ball Toss

Math Game Instructions

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