Learning numbers and quantities is a critical early math skill. Luckily, numbers are all around us – even in our homes! A number search is a great indoor activity to build your toddler’s early math skills.
You and your child
Optional: paper and pencil
Pick a number between 1 and 20. Write the number on a piece of paper, and practice saying it out loud together.
Together, search around the house to find that number of things. Once you find the right number of things, count them out loud together.
After a few rounds, encourage your toddler to search independently around the house for the correct number of objects and bring them back to you.
Make sure your child brought the correct number of things. If they didn’t, explain that they need to get more things or put some things back.
After doing this a few times, count all the objects out loud together. Practice using the words “add,” “plus,” and “more” as you count the different groups of objects together. These are important math words to develop early math skills.
This activity helps your child develop early math, social, language, early writing, and cognitive skills.
