It’s all about counting activities for preschoolers! Learning to count is a big part of developing number sense skills, so we are sharing an array of counting printables and hands-on activities tailored specifically for little learners. This pairs with our big list of math activities for preschoolers.
With the right mix of engaging activities, we’re here to make sure your preschooler not only learns to count but has a blast while doing it.
Since as preschool teachers we spend so much time teaching counting, let’s make it extra fun for our little learners!
Counting activities are a versatile tool in a preschool teacher’s kit, providing numerous opportunities to add more math throughout preschool day. From circle time counting songs and math story time books to cute thematic counting printables, our preschoolers can be little mathematicians by the end of the school year.
Incorporating counting activities into preschool lessons helps kids learn math in a fun and engaging way. In fact, it’s so important that our Daily Lessons in Preschool Counting Curriculum includes 18 full weeks of counting lesson plans!
Pre K Counting
Pre-K counting refers to the early stages of teaching and learning counting skills with preschool-aged children, typically aged 3 to 5 years old.
Pre-K counting activities should be based in hands-on counting experiences; like counting objects, using counting songs and rhymes, and gradually moving towards more structured counting exercises as children develop a basic foundational math skills.
These activities serve as the building blocks for more complex mathematical concepts, like addition and subtraction.
Counting Number Definition
Counting numbers in preschool are the natural numbers we use in counting. There are different skills required for different kinds of counting, which include:
- rote counting
- one to one correspondence
- cardinality
- conservation of number
These counting skills are all critical pieces in developing number sense skills.
How to Teach Counting in Preschool
Like other concept areas in preschool mathematics, teaching counting takes deliberate planning and effective activities that are developmentally appropriate.
Here is how to write counting lesson plans for preschoolers.
Counting Activities for Preschool
Having the right counting printables and activities in place can make all the difference in your pre k math lesson plans and counting activities. Here is a collection of all our best hands-on counting activities for teaching counting to pre-k and preschool students.
We have even included ideas for how to teach counting to toddlers!
Counting Games for Preschool
Using games to teach counting in preschool is an engaging and effective way to make learning fun. Games like counting with dice or using counting cards not only help kids grasp numerical concepts but also promote social interaction and cooperation in a playful learning environment.
Check out these fun counting cards and all the counting games we play with them!
- One to One Correspondence Counting Number Cards
- Comparing Ten Frame Counting Activities
- Composing Ten Counting Activities
- Counting Puzzles
- Dot Counting and Number Identification Mats
- Emoji Grid Games
- How to Play Uno with Preschoolers
- Space Theme Grid Counting Mats
Counting Games for Toddlers
Games and songs are a wonderful way to introduce counting to toddlers.
Simple activities like counting toys during playtime or counting the number of steps while walking can make learning numbers a fun and interactive experience for these curious little learners. We also love singing counting songs and using sensory play to learn counting.
Counting Printables
Counting printables are a valuable resource in preschool education. Not only are they tons of fun, but they can often times be used over and over again.
Additionally, they can be tailored to different preschool themes, from apples and pumpkins and nature to seasons and holidays. Themes help keep learning how to counting interesting and lively.
That’s why this next section is categorized by seasons and holidays for your convenience.
Fall Counting Activities for Preschoolers
Fall-themed counting printables provide a seasonal twist to math lessons for preschoolers.
These engaging resources help children practice counting while embracing the beauty of autumn, reinforcing their number skills through fun, themed activities.
- 5 Squeaky Pigs Counting Song
- Apple Counting Activities
- Apple Counting Cards
- Apple Seed Counting Mats
- Apple Drop Counting Mat
- Collecting Apples Counting Mat
- Fall Counting Puzzles
- Farmer Brown Has 5 Red Apples Counting Song
- Pumpkin Seed Ten Frame Counting
- Pumpkin Counting Sensory Bin
- Pumpkin Counting Cards
- Sneaky Squirrel Ten Frame Mats
Christmas Counting Activities for Preschool
Counting printables with a Christmas theme add a touch of holiday cheer to math activities for preschoolers.
- 5 Little Gingerbread Men Counting Printable Song
- Counting & Addition Mats for Christmas Theme
- Christmas Cookie Cutter Counting Activities
- Christmas Ten Frame Counting Cards
- Christmas Tree Counting Cards
Valentine’s Day Counting
Valentine’s Day counting printables infuse a dose of love and kindness into math learning for preschoolers.
- Valentine’s Day Button Drop Counting
- Valentine’s Day Counting Activities
- Valentine’s Day Counting Cards
- Valentine’s Grid Counting Mats
Holiday Counting Activities for Preschool
From Halloween to Easter, these themed resources engage young learners with festive counting activities that align with the holiday’s spirit.
It’s a creative way to teach math concepts while celebrating special occasions, making learning exciting and memorable for preschoolers.
- Easter Ten Frame Mats
- Leprechaun Counting Mats
- Ghosts & Ghouls Counting Activity
- Halloween Estimation Activity
- Non-Turkey Counting Craft
Winter Counting Printables and Activities
Winter themed counting activities add a touch of frosty fun to preschool math lessons. These activities often include snowflakes, penguins, and other chilly motifs, making counting activities both educational and seasonally entertaining.
Spring Counting Activities for Preschoolers
Spring-themed counting printables bring a burst of seasonal freshness to preschool math activities.
Preschoolers can count blooming flowers or buzzing bees, making math lessons both educational and seasonally relevant as they welcome the arrival of spring.
- Bumble Bee Counting Cards
- Pond Theme Counting Board Game
- Rainbow Colors & Counting Game
- Rainbow Cereal One to One Correspondence Activity
Summer Counting Worksheets and Printables
Looking for a sunny twist on your preschool counting activities?
These summer counting songs and activities include images of beach balls, seashells, ice cream cones, and other summer symbols, making counting more engaging and seasonally appropriate.
- 5 Little Fishies Counting Song
- Cactus Number Formation Mats
- Ice Cream Counting Cards
- Ocean Roll and Cover Counting Cards
- Summer Counting Worksheets
Counting Lesson Plans
Following math lesson plans for preschoolers is crucial when teaching counting skills, as it provides structure and a clear learning trajectory.
These plans are designed to gradually introduce children to mathematical concepts in an age-appropriate manner and follow a clear scope and sequence of learning.
Counting is one of the foundational skills in early math, so our counting lesson plans break down this skill into manageable steps. They ensure that children progress from basic rote counting to more complex concepts like counting objects, skip counting, and understanding one-to-one correspondence.
They also break down counting into counting 0-5, then 0-10, and finally 0-20.
Lesson Plan for Kindergarten Math Counting
Our counting lesson plans can also serve as a valuable intervention for kindergarten students who are struggling with math.
Kindergarten is a critical year for building a strong math foundation, and some students may enter this grade with varying levels of math readiness.
For those who need extra assistance, kindergarten teachers use these plans to reinforce basic counting skills, strengthen number recognition, and enhance one-to-one correspondence, which are all essential for early math success.
Lesson Plan Counting Number 1-20
Our preschool counting lesson plans are aimed at mastering numbers from 0 to 20 by encompassing a range of fundamental skills:
- Quantification: Developing the ability to recognize specific quantities.
- Number Identification: Learning to name numbers from 0 to 20.
- Number Order and Sequencing: Understanding the numerical sequence.
- Counting with One-to-One Correspondence: Associating each number with a specific quantity.
- Cardinality of Number: Recognizing that the last number counted represents the total quantity.
- Conservation of Number: Grasping that the quantity remains the same even when objects are rearranged.
- Subitizing: Quickly recognizing set quantities without counting.
- Composing Numbers: Adding numbers together.
- Decomposing Numbers: Breaking numbers down through subtraction.
Preschoolers develop these counting skills through short, hands-on daily routines and teacher-guided activities. Reinforcement comes from weekly printable math centers, discovery-based concept activities, and the integration of counting skills into literacy activities.
Counting Lesson Plans for Preschool
Our Daily Lessons in Preschool Mathematics is a comprehensive curriculum that brings an exciting twist to math education for preschoolers, steering clear of traditional, uninspiring worksheets.
Our lessons are structured around the proven methods of five and ten frame math, ensuring that learning is not only effective but also enjoyable.
Within Daily Lessons in Preschool Mathematics, you’ll discover a treasure trove of resources, all meticulously organized for your convenience. In each unit, you’ll find:
- Yearly Scope and Sequence: An overview of the curriculum’s structure and goals.
- Daily Learning Routines: Step-by-step plans for each day’s lesson.
- Weekly Discovery Concept Prompts: Ideas to encourage hands-on, discovery-based learning.
- Targeted, Skill-Based Learning Activities: Exercises designed to reinforce key math skills.
- Integrated Literacy Activities: Activities that seamlessly combine math and literacy for a holistic learning experience.
- Weekly Printable Math Centers: Fun and engaging math center activities for every week.
- Teaching Tips: Valuable insights and guidance to enhance your teaching.
- Bonus Activities: Additional resources to enrich the learning journey.
With Daily Lessons in Preschool Mathematics, your math lessons are made easy and exciting. Just open your teaching binder and immerse your preschoolers in a world of mathematical discovery.
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
