In this activity, your child will play a game to practice identifying numbers from 0-10. Children who have mastered this skill will practice ordering numbers from 0 to 10. This kind of game helps children match the number word they hear with the written number, and helps them attend to each number individually, which can be more challenging than just rote counting aloud.
Learning Area(s): Math; Physical Development
MATERIALS
- 11 pieces of paper with one number (0-10) written on each paper and taped to the floor in random order around a room.
LET'S PLAY
Say to the child: “Let’s play a game. I am going to say a number and I want you to jump to the number on floor. Let’s practice. ‘7’—we both will jump to number 7” (both parent and child should jump to the paper with number 7).
Continue the game by calling out other numbers in random order and having your child jump on that number. If the numbers are placed close to each other, the child may be able to leap from one to the other. If you spread them out more, the child may jump or hop all the way to the number you say. Either arrangement is fine.
TIPS
- Another variation on this game is to see if your child can jump or hop to each number in order (start on 0, then find 1, 2, etc.) while the numbers are randomly arranged around the room. If your child can easily do this counting forwards, try counting backwards (starting on 10, then finding 9, 8, etc.)!
- To add additional challenge, give clues about the number you want the child to locate. Example: “I’m thinking of the number that comes after 2.” “I’m thinking of the number that comes before 8.”