Counting Activity – How to Make a DIY Number Board
This counting activity is a great way for kids to learn numbers! A DIY counting board is so easy to make and can be used time and time again!
A Hands On Counting Activity
Working on numbers can feel like an uphill battle, but when you make it a hands on, playful experience, things get a little easier!
Kids love pom poms – they are bright, colorful, and fun! And they make the perfect loose parts for counting!
Plus, while they’re working on their numbers, they’re strengthening fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination too!
Pom poms can be small parts and choking hazards. Be sure to check the packaging and size of the pom poms you are using to ensure the safety of your kiddo! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.
Watch This Counting Activity in Action!
With a bowl of pom poms nearby, my kiddo, who had just turned 4 at the time, enjoyed picking up the pom poms and placing them on the counting board.
The board is a great representation of one to one correspondence. Kids are able to recognize the number figure and visually see how much that number represents. For example, the number 1 only requires 1 pom pom, and so on!
Watch This Counting Activity in Action!
With a bowl of pom poms nearby, my kiddo, who had just turned 4 at the time, enjoyed picking up the pom poms and placing them on the counting activity.
The board is a great representation of one to one correspondence. Kids are able to recognize the number figure and visually see how much that number represents. For example, the number 1 only requires 1 pom pom, and so on!
Tips for Creating This DIY Number Board
Save your cardboard! Cardboard is so much better than regular paper for an activity like this. It is durable and strong and will last!
It doesn’t have to be fancy! We kept this DIY learning resource super simple. Pieces of cardboard glued onto cardboard and handwritten numbers! Easy peasy. Of course, you can make this as colorful and intricate as you like!
Use strong glue! Since you’ll want to use this over and over again, make sure you use a strong glue like hot glue or tacky glue so that the hole-punched pieces stay together!
Use age-appropriate loose parts! If your kiddo is under 3 or still puts small items in their mouth, be sure to use extra large pom poms or a taste-safe item like Cherrios to avoid any choking hazard risk.
Materials
- Cardboard
- Hole Punch
- Glue
- Cardboard
- Hole Punch
- Glue
- Marker
- Pom Poms
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Cut some strips of cardboard. You can vary the size or have them all the same size.
Step 2
Use a hole punch to make holes. You can make 10 holes on each of the pieces for a trickier board, or you can make 1 hole per number like we did.
Step 3
Glue the cardboard strips onto a larger piece of cardboard.
Step 4
Write out numbers 1-10 on the bottom.
Step 5
Provide loose parts, like pom poms, for kids to count with!
Step 1
Cut some strips of cardboard. You can vary the size or have them all the same size.
Step 2
Use a hole punch to make holes. You can make 10 holes on each of the pieces for a trickier board, or you can make 1 hole per number like we did.
Step 3
Glue the cardboard strips onto a larger piece of cardboard.
Step 4
Write out numbers 1-10 on the bottom.
Step 5
Provide loose parts, like pom poms, for kids to count with!
Beyond This Counting Activity
Math is used in everyday life so starting to teach kids how to count at a young age is a great skill to have!
This counting activity, is a fun way to learn numbers, but you can start to integrate counting in everyday aspects of your life even in the baby stage. Count each step as you walk up or down! Count the number of cars you pass while going for a walk. And the list goes on!
For more early math activities, be sure to check out our comprehensive list of ideas as well as our printable section which is filled with fun worksheets to support all things related to early childhood education skills!
Beyond This Counting Activity
Math is used in everyday life so starting to teach kids how to count at a young age is a great skill to have!
This counting activity, is a fun way to learn numbers, but you can start to integrate counting in everyday aspects of your life even in the baby stage. Count each step as you walk up or down! Count the number of cars you pass while going for a walk. And the list goes on!
For more early math activities, be sure to check out our comprehensive list of ideas as well as our printable section which is filled with fun worksheets to support all things related to early childhood education skills!
Great Gifts for Learning Counting and Numbers
These activities are a great way to continue to learn number recognition and counting!
This Montessori activity uses soft pom poms and wooden cupcakes for early counting. It strengthens fine motor skills too.
If you want something really simple, this is perfect! It’s a puzzle made of wooden numbers.
This wooden puzzle lets your toddler match both the number with the correct amount of shapes.
Older kids will love putting together this 3D dinosaur puzzle. The numbers tell them in which order the pieces fit.
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