print view

Give your preschool child a head start for school.

Trying to keep learning fun and enjoyable can be frustrating sometimes. Kids need to learn but keeping them engaged in the activity can be the ultimate challenge. Every child loves those snacks they receive every morning, afternoon and night. Why not teach them a game to play while eating those snacks that will give them incentive to learn to count?

How to Play

Make sure the snacks you give are easy to lie out and count. Grapes are fun to use in this game. They are big and easy to grab on to. As you lay the snacks out on a paper towel count them to your children. Be sure to say to them you have 10 grapes for your snack today so they know exactly how many there are in the beginning. Then count them one at a time as you lay them out. 1 grape, 2 grapes and so on will work.

Once you have counted out the snacks have your children help you count them again. This way they are saying the numbers with you and making sure the have the right amount in front of them.

As they eat the snacks, have them tell you how many they have left. Count with them until they have the numbers down. This will encourage them to count on their own and give them a sense of how numbers lower as quantity lowers.

It may take a few times to get the children to actual count their snacks before eating them. Make it fun by singing songs as they count or placing the snacks in a circle or a triangle. Keep things entertaining and they will continue to reach new heights in learning to count.

Submitted by Candace Krieger