Numbers Are Fun: Counting Games For Kids

Learning how to count can be a lot of fun for a child.  By first learning how to count on their fingers, they are given the basic task of counting up to ten.  As they get older, they will start to count to 20 and beyond.
Using flash cards or putting various items in order are examples of activities that will get them familiar with numbers and sequences.  The following suggestions will get kids counting in no time.

Numerical Hide and Seek

This game is really fun and it keeps kids on their toes.  The items needed are index cards with numbers written on them.  Show these cards to your kids and tell them that they will be playing a game of hide and seek with these index cards.
As the kids are sitting there with their eyes closed, go around and hide the cards in various, but not so difficult, places around the house.  When you are ready, ask them to look for the cards.  When they find them all, have them arrange them on a table in numerical order.

 

Counting Beans

The items that you will need for this activity are large beans, plastic cups, index cards with numbers written on them, and corresponding dots.  Ask your child to pick a number and say the number that is written on the card.  Then have your child place a bean on each dot.  Let them count aloud the number of dots.

Counting what they already have

This is easy and doesn’t require a lot of preparation.  Ask your child to collect all of their toys.  Have them separate between stuffed animals, dolls or toy cars and place them into piles.  Next ask your child to count how many toys they have in each category.

The number line

Begin by taping a long piece of masking tape to the floor.  Then cut numbers 1 to 20 from pieces of construction paper.  Place the numbers on the floor, about a foot apart, on the piece of masking tape.  Have your child count from 1 to 20 going in one direction and also counting in reverse.

Rolling coins

If your son or daughter’s piggy is finally full, empty it and sort the coins.  By sorting, counting and rolling the coins into coin wrappers, your child will learn how to tell the difference between the coins.  He or she will also assist in counting up to the different amounts used to fill the wrappers.  Together, you can take the coins and deposit them into your child’s saving account.

Guessing game

Take a clear, empty jar of any size and fill it up to a certain amount with either coins, jelly beans or M&M’s.  Make sure you know what the total is before asking your child to guess what the correct number of things is in the jar.
These are just a few examples of counting activities for children.  As they learn how to count, they will definitely have a lot of fun, too.