PLAYFUL & STRUCTURED MATH

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Is your child struggling to learn number recognition? Or maybe to just simply count? Have no fear! Today I am going to take you step-by-step on how you can teach your child the concept of counting all the way to recognizes the written number. Although it may only take you 10 minutes to read this blog post, teaching numbers to toddlers takes a lot longer. And sometimes we have to face the fact that our toddler may not be ready yet. Read on for tips on how to know if your child is ready and the steps you can take to advance them to counting and recognizing numbers 0-10.

Why teaching numbers to toddlers early is great!

Children all advance at different rates and in different subjects. By teaching numbers to toddlers they will build foundational math skills and foster problem-solving abilities. Also, early exposure to numbers helps kids recognize patterns and understand quantities. Lastly, it boosts confidence by strengthening language skills.

The best ways for teaching numbers to toddlers.

There are a couple different ways to teach numbers to toddlers. And there is a way to blend the methods. But first lets explore them individually. The first is my favorite! Through daily life activities and games you can teach your child to count and recognize numbers. On the other hand, you can create a more formal activities. There is a need for both methods but whether your child is prepared for the formal is dependent on them and if they’re mentally ready.

Is your toddler ready?

Remember how I said learning numbers can boost your child’s confidence? Well you can plummet their confidence too. This can happen by challenging them with concepts that are too advanced and setting too high of expectations. Because of this, it is important to do these three things:

1. Observe carefully. To tell if your child is ready to learn their numbers will be based on their answers and body language. Both will communicate whether they are interested and trying. Or if they are discouraged and checked-out.
2. Always be encouraging. I am not saying you should praise them for incorrect answers. But give them an A for effort, if deserved. Let them know you’re proud that they tried but that the correct answer still needs to be found.
3. Be patient. Patience is key whether we’re talking short-term or long-term. When teaching numbers to toddlers in the short-term we need to practice repetition … a lot. Additionally, if everything that you’re doing still isn’t enough to keep your child trying and eager to learn, then it’s time to be patient for the long-term and set aside numbers for a few weeks.

Playful ways for teaching numbers to toddlers.

1. Firstly, include your counting in everyday activities. When you feed your toddler, count each spoonful. When baking count out loud the number of cups or teaspoons of an ingredient.
2. Secondly, play games that encourage counting. Such as, hide-and-seek. You and your toddler will both seek at the same time. Have them repeat after you each number until you reach 10. Another game we love in our family is Simon Says. Simon says hop up and down 3 times. Or Simon says turn around two times. Simon says clap your hands 10 times!

Structured time is necessary for teaching numbers to toddlers too.

Teach your child to count numbers 0-10

Before the age of 3 my kiddos are simply joining me in the playful activities to learn numbers. But after they turn 3, I begin working with them to count 0-10 with counting bears; you can use blocks, dry beans, rocks, etc. As long as it’s a physical object they can hold.

Step 1: One at a time.

The adult has all the bears and asks the child, “how many bears do you have?” Your child should answer none, or something similar.

Adult: Correct, that means you have zero. Zero is a number so we’re going to use the word zero to describe how many you have. So, how many bears do you have?

Child: Zero.

Adult: Very good.

Now, handing one bear at a time repeat the same question and give an appropriate response for the answer given. Proceed in this fashion until you reach ten. About 2-3 days a week you can repeat this.

It is a simple but effective way to help your child understand the concept of counting and why we count. It’s okay if they skip a number. My two oldest kids have always skipped the number seven. Why? I don’t know, but poor number seven. 

Step 2: The exchange game.

The next step is playing what I call the exchange game. Here is how it looks in our home so you can try it with your child.

I ask my three year old how many bears he wants and he tells me. I then count out that many bears and place them in a bowl or the lid of the container and slide them over to him. He has to check to make sure I gave him the right amount. Next, I ask him for a certain amount and he then slides that many to me. I check his counting. If needed I help him correct his mistakes. 

Continue asking, passing, and checking for as long as your child is engaged and not showing fatigue. You’ll recognize fatigue if your child is becoming irritable or grumpy with questions or is struggling to focus and zones out.

After your child is demonstrating mastery of counting 0-10 you can move onto recognition of numbers. My second child was still skipping the number seven regularly but I knew it was time to move on because often seeing a number associated with it’s word can help them overcome skipping that number. The caveat is that you want to avoid moving on if there are a lot of numbers being skipped.

Why use Apple Math?

Apple Math has been designed to assist ages 3-4 who know how to count 0-10 but cannot recognize the numbers. This activity can be tailored to your child’s needs and allows self-checking, which is an important skill to have in math. 

If your child isn’t quite counting fluidly from 0-10 you can still use this activity but be sure to use physical objects, described above, before you begin the recognition of numbers.

What Apple Math Teaches.

Apple Math will help teach your child to count numbers 0-10 in a repetitive fashion while assisting in the recognition of the corresponding numbers themselves. 

The activity also encourages your child to find answers on their own using counting skills they already have.

Necessary Materials.

Apple math requires the printable and that’s it. You’ll need a printer to print it off and scissors to cut it out. If you want the activity to last longer you can print it on cardstock or laminate it after printing on regular paper. 

I’ve used a couple different ones for my kids and the laminated one definitely stays in better shape but the cardstock is holding up well too and takes less time. 

Tailor Apple Math to your child’s needs

Bear in mind that all kids advance at different rates – especially in math. If your child is struggling, take a few weeks off and try again. Your child may start strong with counting but to take the next step of recognition can be a big step. Continue practicing counting, giving them confidence before you try recognition again.

There you have it! If you keep the lessons encouraging and tailored to your toddler’s needs they’ll be counting and recognizing their numbers in no time. Grab the printable for your kiddo below. Teaching numbers to toddlers shouldn’t be draining or burdensome. Use these tips, manipulative, and printable to make it easy and fun for you and your kiddo.

Letter of the Week

Apple Math is a part of a larger curriculum designed for preschoolers. It is a free homeschool preschool curriculum designed with play based learning activities. You can check out Letter of the Week by following the link.