54 Fun Games to Teach and Help Kids Practice Counting

54 Fun games to teach and help kids practice counting

Introducing young children to numbers is an exciting journey that lays the foundation for their mathematical understanding. Teaching, practicing, and mastering counting can be both engaging and fun when approached creatively. At this developmental stage, children benefit from activities that incorporate movement, visuals, and hands-on experiences. Using games, songs, and real-life scenarios helps them relate to numbers meaningfully, fostering both recognition and comprehension. The goal is to create an environment where counting feels like play, sparking curiosity and reinforcing number concepts naturally.

Introduction to Numbers Activities to Practice Counting by Playing Games:

1. NURSERY RHYME: Instead of the classic “This little monkey went to the market” nursery rhyme, try a twist: “ONE little monkey went to the market, TWO little monkeys stayed home, THREE little monkeys had roast beef, FOUR little monkeys had none, and FIVE little monkeys said YAY!”

2. TOWER: Build a tower by rolling dice or flipping a card, then add that many blocks to your tower or create separate towers for each number.

3. MUSICAL NUMBERS: Move around number squares on the floor until the music stops, then say the number and jump that many times.

4. SEARCH: Say a number, see if you can find that many objects.

5. COLOR: Engage in a colorful activity: Draw a flower, roll dice or flip a card, and color in that many petals.

6. LADDER: Transform a ladder into a learning tool by writing numbers on it with chalk and calling out a number for children to find.

7. LADDER: Fill each ladder spot with numbers or objects. Start at one side of the ladder. Progress to the next spot only after correctly identifying the number.

8. CAR: Count and add numbers together while in the car.

9. CONES: Place numbers on cones, call out a number, and have children run to the corresponding cone.

10. MEASUREMENT: Explore concepts of greater than, less than, and equal by comparing tower sizes.

11. SCAVENGER HUNT: Organize a scavenger hunt where kids find hidden cards to match the number of objects on paper. Put 1-5 paper on the floor of the number of objects (drawn on or printed off). They then have to find four cards hidden around the room for each number of objects and match.

12. NUMBER SPLAT: Say a number, and children must SPLAT the correct card on the floor. Cover the floor with a deck of cards of numbers that you’re working on. 3-5-10 different numbers. Say the number, and with a fly swatter or hand they have to SPLAT the card then keep it if correct. Most cards, wins!

13. NUMBER. Practice numbers actively by saying, writing, collecting objects, and using them in sentences.

14. TWISTER: Put numbers scattered on different circles. Say a number and they have to go stand on it.

15. BOTLEY: Engage in a coding activity with BOTLEY the robot to reach specific numbers. Scatter these numbers, call one out, and have the child program the robot to go to it.

16. JENGA: Write numbers on JENGA tiles with post-it note or KERPLUNK sticks. Have to say the number before they can grab the piece.

17. Tic-Tac-Toe: Make a tic-tac-toe board with numbers on it. Make it DON’T EAT PETE style and put chocolate chips/goldfish/M&M’s on each number and can eat it after they say the number.

18. Write: Create a challenging activity with numbers repeated on paper where children cross them off after counting objects or naming numbers quickly and accurately.

19. POM-POM-TOSS: Toss a pom-pom into a muffin tin with numbers in each cup and say the number it lands on.

20. Shopping Numbers: Place or write different number on the outside of multiple bowls/bags. The child then has to put the right amount of play food in each bowl/bag.

21. MEMORY/MATCHING: Lay multiple pairs of different number cards upside down. Flip two cards at a time to see if you can find two numbers that are the same and keep that pair. Have to say the correct number to keep the cards.

22. 4 in a ROW: Two people can play on the same board. Lay out cards on the floor 6×7 or use a board that’s already made up. Take turns reading a number. Have to say the number correctly before they can cross out or put a colored paper over the number they said. (Each player gets a different color). First person to get four in a row, wins!

23. PARKING LOT: Create a parking lot of numbers. Place cars on numbers when they are correctly identified and fill the parking lot to completion.

24. BALL TOSS: Match the number of objects to the correct number by tossing a ball into the corresponding bin. For example, the number of objects is 8; have to throw the ball into the number 8 bin.

25. POPPING: Assign numbers to air bubbles from packages. Participants must correctly identify and say the number on each air pocket before popping it.

26. TIME IT: Challenge participants to read numbers as quickly as possible.

27. PAPER AIRPLANE: Scatter numbers across the floor. Throw a paper airplane and read the number it lands on; then perform that many jumps.

28. HOPSCOTCH: Incorporate numbers into each square of the hopscotch game. They say the number as they hop on it.

29. ORDER: Arrange 4 random cards in ascending order from least to greatest.

30. STACKING CUPS: Write numbers on the bottom of disposable stacking cups. Read the number, then stack them. Test how high they can stack before they fall and count the total number of cups.

31. SHAKE SHAKE: Shake number cards in a bowl, dump them out, and read only the face-up numbers. Then twirl that many times. Repeat the process by putting the cards back in and shaking again.

32. EGGS: Fill Easter eggs with Cheerios and hide them. Upon finding an egg, count the objects inside and write down the number.

33. BOWLING: Knock down bowling pins with a ball. Count the number of pins knocked down and keep score.

34. PLAY DOUGH: Shape the play dough into the number and create that many play dough balls.

35. COOTIE CATCHER: Design a cootie catcher with written numbers or drawings of objects to say the number.

36. TREASURE HUNT: Conceal items like bottle caps or beads in sand. Reveal a number, have participants read it, find that many objects, and place them in their treasure chest.

37. KNOCK DOWN: Build towers of varying numbers. Show a card, have them identify the number, find the corresponding tower, and knock it down. Knock down all the towers!

38. STOMP: Scatter numbers on the floor. Participants must count objects or state the number before stomping on it.

39. HIDDEN OBJECT: put three bowls upside down with a hidden object under it. Put one random number on top of each one, they have to read the number (or put quantities of items instead of numbers) on top of a bowl they choose . If they are correct, they can look under the bowl to see if they found the missing object.

40. HIDDEN OBJECT BEHIND CARD: have cards laid out. Hide something under one of them (like a printout of a happy face etc). They have to say the number correctly or count the object correctly before they can see if they found the missing object behind the card.

41. GO FISH: Play a fun card game like “GO FISH” with numbered cards, encouraging matching pairs and number recognition. Sort through the deck and only have cards numbered 1-5 or all of them depending on skill level. Shuffle cards, deal each person five cards. Place remaining cards spread out in the middle of the table. One person asks the other player “_____ do you have the number _____” (insert a name and a number they want to make a pair). If they have it, then they give it to the player, if they don’t then they say, “GO FISH!” and the person asking then takes a card from the center pile. All pairs should be placed numbers up in front of each player as they are collected.

42. UNO Card Game: Arrange UNO cards 1-12 in order. Each person picks a card and keeps it hidden. The dealer selects a card from the deck and announces the number; the other player places an object like a doll/car/bead, etc., on that number. Continue calling out cards and putting objects on the number until you say their secret number and they call out “That’s my card!” and then start over.

43. Dominoes: match number to # on dominoes. Lay out playing cards in ascending order (from smallest to largest) on a surface and sort the dominoes under the cards based on the number of dots.

44. Order family members in sequence from youngest to oldest for a fun and engaging activity.

45. “BEEP” Game: Choose a target number, like 20. Then one person starts counting—they can choose any number to start with. Go around the circle and count on. When you get to your target number, that person will say “BEEP” and they’re out. The next person picks a new starting number. Continue until one person is left as the winner.

46. Counting Challenge: Take turns counting to a chosen number, like 10, 20, or 100. Take turns counting. For example, I start off and say “1,” then they say “2,” then I say “3,” etc., until you get to your target number. Start over and switch who starts first.

47. “Race to ___(pick a target number)___” Take turns counting to a chosen number, like 10, 20, or 100. Players can only say 1-2 numbers at a time. The winner is the one who reaches the target number first.

48. Number Jumping Game: Draw with chalk or place number pieces on the floor. Have the child run to a number, and when they get to the number, they have to jump that many times on it. Either have them run to a different number each time and they say the number out loud and jump, or you say a number and they have to run to it and then jump that many times.

49. Skillz Ladder Activity: Use a Skillz ladder and write with chalk numbers inside each square. Call out numbers for the child to stand on. Variation: use it as a number line for hopping like a frog or to practice number Variation: call out a random number and they have to go to that number. (You can use the Skillz ladder as a number line or draw a number line instead.)

50. Hide numbers taped around the room for them to find. When they locate a number, they tap it and announce it, followed by clapping that many times. They can also record the numbers on paper to see if they found all of them. Or when they find it, put that many objects with it.

51. Attach numbers to cones and call out a number for them to run to.

52. Call out a number, and then have them jump that many times or shoot that many hoops.

53. Musical numbers: Print off numbers and tape them to chairs. Have them go around until the music stops, they sit on a number, say it, and then jump that many times.

54. Utilize a 100’s chart by randomly dropping a bead on it, then announce the number it lands on. Alternatively, use a Concentration Chart to count from 1 to 20 and locate all the numbers on it.

In conclusion, mastering counting with young children is most effective when learning is interactive and joyful. By integrating playful activities like musical numbers, scavenger hunts, and building towers, children not only practice counting but also develop a love for numbers. This approach helps solidify foundational skills, setting the stage for more complex mathematical thinking in the future. Encouraging exploration, repetition, and positive reinforcement ensures that children build confidence and enthusiasm in their numerical journey.

Introduction to Numbers Pack

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