By Madhur Churiwala
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10…
Numbers are so confusing for the little ones, right? How to teach them? Will they learn it without any hassle? So many questions pop up as the kid starts growing...
The day the baby starts speaking, we expose them to numbers. Sometimes through songs, nursery rhymes or patterns and prints with numbers on them or even through teaching them how old they are. Yes, maths starts from early childhood and stays till the school and beyond.
Do not worry parents, we have curated an easy way to teach your child number recognition in a fun and exciting way.
What is Number Recognition?
Number Recognition means to recognize the numbers and understand how to use them in everyday lives.
It's always preferable to teach the kid through a play method. When the kids are having fun, they pay more attention and retain the knowledge easily. Therefore, play is a great method to experiment the numbers with different strategies with the child.
Different ways to Teach Number Recognition to Kids
1. Use Everyday Objects
Using the objects that the child sees everyday helps them to relate more. You can ask them to count three red fruits from a basket full of colourful fruits. You can count the stairs while going up or down. Tell them to bring five blocks etc.
2. Number Books
Number books can help the kid to practise and learn to recognize the numbers with ease. The book has different kinds of exercises available for the kids to practise and they also learn how to use them in the world around them.
3. Play Counting Games
Children like counting activities with music and clapping. You can curate your own counting activities or purchase few from online.
Few ideas for making up your own counting activities
A. Flash Cards
Make the flash cards with the numbers. Then ask the child to identify the number and count the objects. Try to make it colourful for better engagement of kids.
B. Memory Game
It's an interesting game to help your child practice number recognition. The parent can try using different objects with numbers marked on them.
C. Hide and Seek
This game helps the child to practise numbers while playing and moving. Hide a toy somewhere in the room and then give them the clues to find them.
D. Play Store
It's a great way for the kid to learn numbers along with counting them. Give them some fake money and let them use it to count. They will take turns to be shopkeeper and customer and deal with those fake notes to count.
Read more: How to Teach Kindergarten Math: Concepts, Tips, & Strategies
4. Dice Games
These are interesting ways to make your kid learn with play methods by recognizing the numbers.
5. Board Games
Board games are the best way to enhance the memory of the child along with number recognition. They help the kids to understand how the numbers work together. Variety of board games are available in the market. Few of them are
A. Candy Land
B. Chutes and Ladders
6. Card Games
Card games help them to have fun with their besties along with the number recognition. Kids love to spend time playing them. Few of our favourites are:
A. Uno
B. Go Fish
Read more: 30 Best Multiplication Tricks to Solve Complex Math Problems
7. Number Lines
Number lines are a great way to help your child visually understand the placement of numbers. You can draw a number line with the help of a marker or can take out a printout from the internet and let your kid practise them.
8. Number mazes
These help kids to practise numbers physically as well as mentally. You can take a print out from the internet. There are many books also available in the market.
9. Number Puzzles
It is a great way to help kids practise their number recognition and it also expands their problem-solving abilities.
Read more: Best Mathematician Movies for Kids of All Ages
10. Number Rhymes and Songs
Kids always love the rhymes and songs, so it is the easiest way to teach them numbers in their early years with the help of these. There are a lot of number rhymes and songs available online in music videos as well as in books.
A few of our favourites are:
A. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
B. One little, two little, three little fingers
Other than this there are few more ways like
• Counting aloud
• Matching number to quantities
• Draw and colour
• Comparing numbers
Conclusion
Number Recognition is an important skill which will be very useful in the early childhood of the kids in school as well as throughout their lives. It will not only help them in studies but also during their daily lives.
AlphaMath transforms learning into a fun, game-based adventure, enhancing critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and real-world math applications to help students excel in school and competitions.