When it comes to realizing the importance of counting activities for preschoolers, the Montessori schools of Tokyo are quite good at exposing their students to the most pedagogically sound ones. The ability to count is essential for any child to be able to learn and grow in schools and beyond and these schools do everything to inculcate these abilities in preschoolers.
What is Counting Activity?
Any activity that helps individuals understand the concept of numbers and how these can be used is a counting activity. In the case of children, the activities are fun and light ones that encourage them to gain a fundamental understanding of numbers and what their functions are.
What is the Importance of Counting Activity for Preschoolers?
Counting activity is the only way that children as young as those at the preschool level can understand the whole concept behind counting. Let us take a look at the seven specific reasons why counting activity is so important.
● It makes them find numbers interesting.
● It makes them learn simple counting, adding one number at a time.
● It makes them understand the concept of more or less by counting objects at different places.
● They get a sense of order. For instance, successive objects that increase in size give them a sense of increasing order.
● It gives them an idea about addition and subtraction by adding to and removing from a number of objects.
● It gives them an idea about the practical side to numbers.
● Makes them remember numerals on account of their being taught via an activity.
Top 25 Counting Activities for Preschoolers
There are a whole host of counting activities that Montessori schools of Tokyo and Indian schools of Tokyo can participate in. Let’s get a lowdown-
1. Beans and flower pots- This activity involves children placing beans in empty flower pots that have numbers pasted on them. The number of beans to be placed in each pot should correspond to the number pasted on the flower pot.
2. Ice Cream Sticks and Numbered Containers-This numbered activity requires 55 ice cream sticks and 10 containers labeled separately from 1 to 10. The children are required to place the correct number of sticks in the right container and thereby learn to count from 1 to 55.
3. Counting fish by singing a nursery rhyme-Children studying in montessori schools of Tokyo or Indian schools in Tokyo can learn counting from 1 to 10 by learning the nursery rhyme-
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
once I caught a fish alive
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
then I let it go again
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so
4. Counting with the help of shapes – For this activity one can cut out a piece of cardboard into different shapes and numbers. Shapes of the same kind can be kept in small containers together with the right number cut-out.
5. Learning numbers via an art assignment – Giving the little ones an art assignment that involves their drawing numbers and filling them in with colors is a good way of making them relate with numbers.
6. Connecting the dots to create numbers – Connecting the dots to create numbers is a great counting activity for toddlers.
7. Counting the number of cars of particular colors on the road – Counting the number of cars of particular colors on the road is an interesting counting activity for nursery children.
8. Solving a jigsaw puzzle with numbered parts – Solving a jigsaw puzzle with numbered parts in another way of teaching numbers to kids.
9. Counting the number of objects at home – Children can be made to understand the concept of numbers by making them count objects like chairs, cushions in the living room, light bulbs and so on.
10. Counting using multiple choice options – Children can be made to count with the help of multiple choice options. For instance, making them choose the two-present option out of three different options showing, one, two and three presents.
11. Counting the number of cars in a parking lot – Making a child count the number of cars parked in a parking lot is a good way of getting them acquainted with numbers.
12. Making kids count the number of potato chips in a small pack – Making kids count the number of potato chips in a small pack can also give them a good idea about numbers.
13. Making kids count the number of pips in an apple – Making children count the number of seeds in an apple is a great counting activity.
14. Counting the number of petals on flowers – Counting the number of petals in flowers is a great counting activity for a 3 to 4 year old.
15. Learning to count on an abacus- Learning to count the old fashioned way on an abacus is a great way of getting acquainted with numbers.
16. Use uno cards and clothesline clips – Children can be made to use different numbers of clothesline clips and affix them to the appropriate numbered uno cards.
17. Race to fill the cup – Ask children to roll a pair of dice and fill up the cup in question with objects equal to the number obtained.
18. Google eyes counting game – You can draw out several monsters and with several rolls of dice decide how many eyes they will need to place on each of the monsters.
19. Feed the hungry shark- Create a shark mouth with a cardboard carton and separately cut out many small paper fish and keep them in a container. With every roll of the dice the children can pick up the appropriate number of fish and feed those to the hungry shark.
20. Dice Bingo-On the roll of a pair of dice strike out the appropriate number on the bingo card.
21. Farm Animal Counting- Preschoolers can be taken to a farm and made to count animals.
22. Reciting the Baa Baa Black Sheep Nursery Rhyme- This rhyme is all about counting and can be deployed to teach counting to preschoolers.
23. Cookie Counting- Children can have great fun counting the number of chocolate chips in a cookie.
24. Counting Snowballs-Making children count snowballs made out of cotton can be great fun too.
25. Race to fill a cup with erasers-One can organize a race amongst preschoolers to fill up a cup with erasers, thereby drilling the concept of numbers into them.
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Conclusion
Getting small children to understand numbers and how those can be practically used is critical in putting them on the path of knowledge and education. That is where the importance of counting games is immense as it generates an interest in learning about numbers amongst the very young.
FAQs
What is the best Counting Activity for 3 to 4 year Olds?
Making Them Watch Youtube Videos Like ‘five Little Monkeys’ Should Be Helpful.
What Is A Fun Way To Count Numbers For Kindergarten?
Making them learn counting with the help of a magnetic fishing game.
How will Counting the Numbers Develop Skills?
It helps inculcate numerical ability in little children and trains them to think rationally.
What do 5 year olds learn from Counting Activities?
They learn logical thinking and problem solving.
What is the Easiest Counting Principle?
The most important counting principle is the ability to find out the total number of ways of completing a task. For instance, you could learn addition by merging two groups of objects or by filling a half empty tumbler of water with more water.
