Stocking Number Hunt
What you need
- a stocking or a long sock
- five cards with 1 to 5 dots and the number, drawn on paper
- a room with small toys to find
How to do it
- Pop the number cards into the stocking and give it a shake.
- Let your child pull out a card and count the dots, or read the number.
- Send them off round the room to find that many toys and drop them into the stocking, counting as they go.
- Tip the stocking out and count again together to check, then pull out the next card.
Why it matters
Fetching exactly the right number of things means holding the number in their head while they move, which is harder and more fun than counting what's in front of them.
What they're learning
- Counting out
- Counting out exactly three is harder than counting a pile, and it's what they need for sharing things out later.
- Holding a number in mind
- Remembering "four" while they search the room is a real memory workout.
- Checking
- Tipping it out and counting again shows them counting is a way to be sure.
What to look for
Notice them stopping when they reach the number, without being told. Stay close, nothing in mouths.
A tip
Use toys too big to fit through a toilet roll tube if a younger brother or sister is about.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: use cards with 1, 2 and 3 only
Harder: pull out two cards and find that many altogether
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Gross motor activities · Toddler activities with paper · Toddler activities with socks