My 3 year old is good at counting. She can count to about 30 independently as long as you don’t hold skipping #15 against her, and she can count even higher if you help her with every new “tens” number. She doesn’t recognize any numbers in print yet though. One simple idea I thought up to help her with learning numbers: matching counting to print is to write the numbers on her fingers using a marker. This way, when she practices counting on her fingers, she’ll also be matching the number in print to the number she says aloud!
Learning Numbers: Matching Counting to Print
We tried it today. I used a non-toxic washable marker to write the numbers on her fingers. 1 on her pointer, 2 on her middle finger, 3 on her ring finger, 4 on her pinkie, and 5 on her thumb. I tried to get her to sit still for a minute or two until the marker dried enough it wouldn’t smear.
Then we counted her numbered fingers. We practiced holding up certain numbers of fingers and looking at the numbers written on them.
If you like this idea for learning numbers: matching counting to print, you should check out our Letter of the Day Hand Stamps, too!
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