Looking to teach numbers to preschoolers in a fun way? Try domino track.
When I set up a counting activity for my four-year-old, I want the game to be hands-on. Domino track is where it’s at.
I want my preschooler to be able to move objects and touch as he counts. Gone are the days where we pass a math worksheet to our children and check it for completion.
We are looking for a strong understanding of number sense, and this domino counting activity is a perfect fit to improve number recognition.
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When you close your eyes and picture a group of six, what do you see?
Anyone see the exact grouping as displayed on a domino? – Three on the top, and three on the bottom.
Now, try to do the same for a group of five. Do you see a domino or dice?
This vision is called subitizing.
Subitizing is the ability to ‘see’ a small number of objects without counting. When subitizing, you instantly know how many dots are present. You can also reinforce number sense with a fun counting DIY board game.
In this picture, my preschooler is practicing rational counting, which is also vital for number sense.
With practice, rational counting will eventually lead to subitizing. Toddlers begin with counting each object and build-up to this.
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How should I teach my child to recognize numbers?
Playing this number recognition game is a great way to expose your preschooler to what numbers look like and pairing them to the correct amount of objects.
Why is subitizing important?
When preschoolers learn how to recognize a familiar number grouping automatically, they will have more time processing new information.
They won’t get “caught up” trying to count each group’s number when trying to add one more. (later down the road) Do not rush adding on a preschool level. Now is the time to build that number sense.
My preschooler LOVED this counting game!
So much so that we ended up adding three more rows of domino numbers.
Here’s how to set-up this number recognition game:
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How to set up this number recognition game:
- Tape down a large piece of white paper to your table.
- Choose about ten dominoes to begin.
- Be sure you ONLY have the dominoes needed for the game. Too many can be overwhelming, especially on the first try.
- Create lines, adding a blank space for each domino. I used the width of a ruler as my guide.
- Begin to play!
- Match the correct domino to the numbers written.
We played this domino counting activity on and off all morning!
RELATED: Have an older child? Try playing this counting game with a domino addition loop!
