Easy Math Activities for Preschool

Some of the most easy preschool math activities offer the best play based and engaging ways for children to interact with math. And, sometimes, it’s the simplest activities that are most effective and really spark a preschooler’s interest. From shapes and colors to measurement and preschool counting activities, easy and low-prep is the way to go.

This article will provide fun and simple preschool math activities to help children develop essential math skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving. Plus, we will share our most popular preschool math curriculum, too.

According to a study by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), early math experiences can build a child’s confidence regardless of math skills.

Moreover, math activities for preschoolers that are set in a real-life environment helps children understand how math is used in everyday life. 

By using easy math activities for preschoolers to build confident learners, children can develop a long-standing interest in math.

Easy Math Activities for Preschool

At this foundational stage, it’s crucial to introduce preschoolers to math concepts in a manner that is both engaging and accessible, as well as systematic.

Some of the easiest math activities have the greatest impact in learning because they are also high interest activities. These activities can help children develop tactile learning, boost engagement, build confidence, and promote curiosity. 

By introducing children to fun games and activities, parents and teachers can help children get excited about math and lay the foundation for their future academic success.

Here are some of the activities designed specifically for preschoolers:

Easy Counting Activities

• Composing Ten: A Ten-Frame Counting Activity
  • Building on their ten frame skills, kids can practice making ten with this dice and counter activity by rolling, counting, and filling the frame!
• One-on-one Correspondence Counting Activity
  • You can use “O” color-shape stickers or even colored cereals! This activity is not only fun but also a bit more advanced than traditional counting activities, so it’s perfect for preschoolers preparing for kindergarten. 
• Ice Cream Counting Card Activity
  • These ice cream counting cards are the perfect way for preschoolers to add up scoops of fun while mastering their numbers.

Check out more number identification and counting activities for preschool here!

Easy Activities to Teach Sorting

• Sorting Fruits and Vegetables Activity
  • Turn playtime into a healthy learning adventure with this vibrant sorting activity. This activity offers excellent fine motor practice as preschoolers will pick up and transfer colorful pom poms or other manipulatives to match to each food. They can use their fingers or small tongs.
• Fine Motor Sorting Activity
  • This fine motor color sorting activity using jumbo plastic tweezers teaches children colors, while also developing fine motor skills. Jumbo tweezers help strengthen the small muscles in the hands and wrists.
• Shamrock Color Sorting Activity
  • This fun-filled color sorting activity will help your little ones master their color recognition skills. It’s a perfect activity for your March preschool theme….just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Easy Preschool Shape Activities

• Shape Train Activity
  • Choo, choo! This fun train-building game builds important geometry skills for preschoolers. It offers practice with shape recognition, sorting, and matching. This geometric train activity is sure to get your preschoolers on the right ‘track’ with important shape skills!
• Farm Theme Shape Activity
  • Invite your preschoolers on a farmyard learning adventure with these 10 thematic shape mats! These adorable mats introduce young learners to shapes, hone fine motor skills, and spark imagination in a fun “down on the farm” activity.
• Playdough Shape Mats
  • Learning shapes is an important part of preschool math skills development. One of the best ways to learn shapes is to build them. And what better way to build them than with beloved playdough? These playdough shape mats will provide lots of shape practice and hands-on fun for your preschoolers!

Easy Measurement Activities for Preschoolers

• Comparing Length with Rainbow Strips
  • This fun activity will help preschoolers identify length by comparing and measuring colorful rainbow strips. The best part? It is easy prep and set up, so it is basically ready to go!
• Balancing Scale and Counting Bears Activity
  • Pull out counting bears and a balancing scale and I guarantee that your preschoolers will roar with delight! Not only is this activity colorful and fun, but it is also great for practicing number identification, one-to-one correspondence skills and weight measurement. 
• Flower Height Measurement Activity
  • This colorful flower measurement activity is a perfect addition to your Spring or Gardening preschool themes. You can use a variety of manipulatives to “measure” how tall different flowers are. It offers excellent fine motor and one-to-one correspondence practice, too!

Easy Activities to Teach Graphing

• Fall Graphing Game for Preschool
  • This autumn-themed graphing game allows preschoolers to count, sort, and graph some fall favorites like leaves, pinecones, and acorns. It’s math and autumn magic all rolled into one!
• Winter Penguins Graphing Activity
  • Penguins are typically a favorite part of any winter preschool theme. This fun penguin-themed “race to the top” is an adorable graphing activity that is sure to be a COOL hit this winter. It can be played individually or in pairs.
• It’s a Zoo Counting Activity
  • If you’re looking for a counting and graphing activity to use during your animal theme, look no further! “It’s a Zoo” is adorable, fun and a great way for your preschoolers to “collect data’ as they move around a gameboard. Use any type of counters to graph the friendly zoo animals you encounter along the way.

Easy Patterning Activities

• Patterned Feathers Turkey Craft
  • Get those creative juices flowing and fine motor skills working with this bead-tastic turkey craft. This activity will teach preschoolers basic math concepts like counting, sorting and patterns, making it a learning feast for your little ones.
• Farm Animal Patterning Strips
  • With an oink oink here and and an oink, oink there….most preschoolers just LOVE a farm theme! These farm animal pattern cards are a quick and easy way to teach preschoolers patterns. The adorable farm animals help teach both AB and ABC patterns.
• Scooping and Pouring Patterns
  • Scooping and pouring activities are a foundational part of preschool, but this activity has an additional twist! It’s as simple as scooping and pouring two different colors of rice, layer by layer to make a beautiful AB rice pattern. As your preschoolers repeat the scooping and pouring motions, they will start to notice the beautiful pattern they are creating.

Daily Preschool Math Curriculum

If you love all the activities listed above, check out our easy preschool math curriculum!

These preschool math daily lessons were designed to teach your preschooler all five math disciplines without boring worksheets!

Developed with input from experienced educators and parents, this systematic program guides children through key early childhood math concepts. This curriculum spirals skills organically throughout the school year.

All the preschool math basics are covered, including:

• Comparing & Sorting
• Counting (0-5, 0-10 & 0-20)
• Shapes
• Positions & Patterns
• Measurement
• Graphing
• Addition & Subtraction

The best part? The math lessons are interactive, hands-on and FUN!

Easy Math Activities for Toddlers

Instilling a love of numbers and basic math concepts early on can have a lasting impact on children. As early as 2 years old, toddlers can grasp the one-to-one relationship between numerals and objects and understand that “two” signifies more than “one.” 

To help develop these early numeracy skills, offer some hands-on lessons that are packed with fun!

Here are some of my favorite numeracy activities for toddlers:

• Finger Play Fun
  • Classic finger rhymes like “Five Little Monkeys” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” are more than just catchy tunes. They involve counting each finger as it bends or disappears, reinforcing number recognition and one-to-one correspondence.
• Shape Sorting
  • Turn an ordinary cardboard box into an interactive learning tool! Fill it with colorful shapes cut from felt, cardboard, or construction paper. Encourage your toddler to sort the shapes by color, size, or type (circles, squares, triangles). This playful activity helps teach shape recognition, classification, and fine motor skills.
• Building Block Game
  • Building blocks aren’t just for constructing impressive towers. They’re perfect for introducing basic counting and addition. As your toddler builds, count the blocks together, adding them up as you go. You can even challenge them to build towers of specific heights or colors, fostering problem-solving and color recognition skills.
• Rhymes and Counting Songs
  • Learning through movement is always a hit with toddlers! Add upbeat music with counting themes, like “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” or “The Wheels on the Bus.” Encourage your toddler to sing along and move their bodies to the beat, counting their motions or the objects mentioned in the song.
• Nature Walk Number Hunt Game
  • Turn your next nature walk into a treasure hunt for numbers! Encourage your toddler to collect leaves, pebbles, or twigs, counting them together as you go. To take it a step further, you can compare the sizes of your collections, introducing concepts like “more than,” “less than,” and “the same.”

Remember, the key is to keep your numeracy lessons fun and engaging! Let your toddler explore, experiment, and make mistakes. Each new discovery represents a step towards a lifelong love of learning and a budding understanding of a world filled with numbers.

Sarah Punkoney, MAT

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.

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