19 Fun Counting Games & Activities for Kids

To be able to learn about money, kids first need to know number recognition and how to count. But how to make it fun? Here are 19 fun counting games and activities for kids.

One of the very first math skills kids acquire is how to count. One, two, three…

This is the backbone of more advanced math like addition, subtraction, etc.

It’s also an essential skill for learning about money and beginning kids on an allowance. Most experts agree that the best time to start an allowance is when kids have mastered counting and are beginning to learn addition and subtraction.

      See Related: The Best Age to Begin Allowance

To most kids learning how to count is fun. Many kids will just do it naturally on their own – counting objects they see outside or toys they’re playing with at home.

Introducing a few counting games can solidify the learning process even further. The following are nineteen counting games and activities you can do with your kids to help them learn how to count:

Counting Games & Activities for Kids

This activity helps kids make the connection between written numbers and quantities. Kids cover the empty circles inside the written number with plastic discs:

From Stay at Home Educator:

For kids who like to move – create a wooden block die with different actions. Have kids roll the wooden die with two regular dice. Next, have kids do the action that your wooden block landed on the number of times that corresponds with the number die.

From Buggy and Buddy:

Roll the dice and determine who loses all their “teeth” (mini-marshmallows) first with this counting game:

From Toddler Approved:

Turn counting into a game: Each player rolls the die and then adds that many cubes to their cup.  The first one to fill the cup wins!

From Frugal Fun 4 Boys:

Help kids number recognition with this paper airplane game:

From The Educator’s Spin on It:

For kids who do better outside, here’s a fun number maze. Parents say the number and kids try to find it:

From Hands On As We Grow:

This daisy craft lets kids count how many petals each flower needs:

From No Time for Flashcards:

Have preschoolers trace numbers and also determine how many Cheerios represents that number with this activity:

From Schooling a Monkey:

Help kids understand one to one correspondence with this colored cereal activity:

From Stay at Home Educator:

Do your kids like cars? This is the perfect game for them. It’s extremely simple – Roll the dice and move your car that number of squares.  The first one to the finish line wins!

From Frugal Fun 4 Boys:

Use pom poms, cupcake holders, and tongs to have children determine the correct number of pom poms that correspond to the number written in each cupcake holder:

From Laughing Kids Learn:

Do you have a kid who likes working with their hands? This egg cracking counting activity is just the thing for them:

From Modern Preschool:

What kid doesn’t love Goldfish crackers? Here’s a great way to help preschoolers learn their numbers during snack time:

From Life over C’s:

Roll the dice and smack the corresponding number – perfect for active preschoolers!

From Mom Inspired Life:

Help kids practice skip counting with this paper plate/sewing activity:

From 123 Homeschool 4 Me:

This game uses beads, a 100s board, and dice to help kids learn to count to 100. Whoever reaches 100 first wins!

From Kitchen Floor Crafts:

Create bead manipulatives to represent the number on a given card:

From There’s Just One Mommy:

For kids who are visual learners, these clay number manipulates can help to make abstract concepts more concrete. Plus, they’re fun to make!

From Schooling a Money:

Print out these free sheets, roll the dice, and determine how many bugs should move into the jar:

From The Measured Mom:

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