Numbers are important for children as they enter school. While
it is necessary for our preschoolers to count in sequence to 20, we also need
to help them recognize numerals and understand numeracy. This goal can be
meaningful and fun.
One “game” you can play to help children is to use
(recycle!) old plastic eggs. We used a permanent marker to write numerals on
each egg. Note that we put a line under the numeral so children would know
which way to look at the egg. This is especially important for 6 and 9.
We also like to encourage children to collect small items
while on a walk or playing in the yard. These can be used as part of the “game”
and they help to show children that we don’t need to buy things to learn and
have fun.
Small pebbles were collected and put inside the eggs.
The child chooses an egg, says the numeral, and then opens it. The pebbles are
put in a line for the child to count, as shown below. This gives number meaning
to the numeral.
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Note that we include 15 as this seems to be one of the most difficult numerals for children to say and recognize. |
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Be sure to have children point and count from left to right, the direction we read. |
In this seemingly simple “game” there are 3 necessary
learning objectives: recognizing and saying numerals, meaningful counting , and matching items to a numeral.
This helps children develop number sense!
Standards Alignment:
NAEYC - 2.F.02, 2.F.04, 2.F.11.
Head Start - X.A.1, X.A.2, X.A.3, X.A.4, X.A.5.