The sticker number match took three minutes to set up.
And not only did sticker number match take minutes to create, but it also got my four-year-old geared up to begin the day with play.
This activity is a simple way for me to drink my tea hot as he takes a closer look at what number symbols (1,2,3,4,5,6) represent. Win. Win. I call these Breakfast Invitations, and I’ve got all the details on these morning activities for kids here.
RELATED: Help children learn at home through play! Check out WONDER; Playing to Learn our online course.
Here’s how to teach numbers to preschoolers in a fun way.
I love using stickers for this reason. The colorful images engage preschoolers, and I can’t resist a new sheet at the Target Dollar Spot.
- Use stickers to create counting excitement.
- Add dice to simple DIY learning games.
- Use toys to touch and count.
- Draw silly characters on paper and count to add eyes with dot stickers.
- Play counting movement games to count objects around the house.
- Make graphs to sort and count objects.
RELATED: Have extra stickers? These sticker activities are an excellent way to clean up that sticker drawer!
Numbers are more than memorizing a number symbol.
Number symbols are simply that. They are the symbol representing the number such as 4, 6, and 10.
Quantity is the total amount of objects that represent the total amount. We pair quantity with a number symbol.
With sticker number match, preschoolers are asked to count the stickers (quantity) and match them with the number symbol.
Here’s how I introduce numbers to my preschooler.
My four-year-old is just now beginning to memorize the number symbols 1-10.
I intentionally waited to focus on the number symbols to gain a solid foundation on touching to count first. Touching to count means I want my preschooler to touch each object with his finger as he says the number name. My goal is for my preschooler to truly understand that five objects are still five objects regardless of how they are rearranged.
Next, I introduce the number symbols to begin matching them to the total amount. This part comes more easily because it is memorizing a symbol and matching it to a word.
Let’s set this easy counting activity up!
The supply list is pretty easy breezy.
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- White paper roll
- Markers
- Stickers – I love this large pack here
- Sticky notes
Tape the white paper to the table.
Add a few rectangles to your paper and divide them into two sections.
On one side, add a collection of similar stickers.
Add the number symbol to the sticky notes. Place the sticky notes along the top of the activity.
Invite your preschooler to dive into the math game!
We like to do these activities in the morning. I call them Breakfast Invitations because they welcomed change in our day from morning TV, making everyone (myself included) cranky. We needed to hit restart!
Now, my four-year-old wakes up and comes to the table ready for quick and simple learning through play activities. When he is finished, her runs off to play.
Like this number activity, the idea is to keep some things I know that he has mastered mixed with one or two new ideas that I can reinforce or introduce.
We keep the environment risk-free and encourage variations that he may come up with as he works.
Here, my preschooler counted each sticker and matched it with the number symbol.
Remember, sticker number activities such as this are kept simple on purpose!
We don’t need to rack our brains and spend hours cutting and pasting.
Instead, let’s take a look around and use what we have to invite learning through play into our daily! We never underestimate the use of objects, even as simple as socks and golf balls.
