• Collect small objects for counting, sorting and matching: buttons, spools (thread), lids, bottle caps, keys, magnets, toys, etc.
• Save small containers such as margarine tubs, disposable cups, cans, egg cartons (all sizes), trays, tins, etc.
• Other items to gather: stickers, old magazines, crayons, glue sticks, paper (all colors), rubber stamps and ink pads, felt pens, yarn.

Let your imagination be your guide!

• Count buttons, snaps, socks, shoes, sleeves, pant legs, etc.
• "What should we put on first?"
  "What should we put on next?" (or second)
  (The concept of first, second, third and so on are important!)
• "How many of these things occur in pairs?"
  "What's Mommy wearing that comes in pairs?" (earrings!)
  "What is there the most of?"
  "How many buttons does Daddy have on his shirt?"
  "Who has more buttons? You or Daddy?"
• "Let's put on your right shoe... Now, we'll put on your left shoe."
  (This is a great time to teach right and left!)
• "Whose shoes are smaller (or bigger)? Yours or Daddy's?"
  (Comparing sizes is important!)

Snack time

• Use crackers of all kinds and have the child sort them before eating.
• Again, using all different kinds of crackers, have child name the shapes (Wheat Thins are square, Waverly Wafers are rectangles, Ritz crackers are circles (round), Oystrets are hexagons, etc.)
• Break graham crackers into different shaped rectangles... 
  "How many different kinds of squares and rectangles can you make?"
• Spread a layer of peanut butter on a cracker and, then, draw a number in the peanut butter. (You can cover a pencil with plastic wrap to do your writing. Or use a toothpick.) The child gets to read the number before eating the cracker. Then you can number them 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on... Have the child put them in order to eat them. (Be sure to have the child watch you draw the numbers! Your example is the best thing for their learning to write. You can do letters too.)  Putting the child's age on the cracker is fun! 
  Ask, "How old are you?" Then draw that number for them. 
  Ask, "How old were you last year?" Draw that number. 
  Then, "How old will you be next year?" And so on.
• Sort M&M's, Skittles or Fruit Loops into containers (egg carton or muffin tin) by color. Count each color before eating. 
  "What color has the most?"
  "What color has the least?"

• Apples: 
  Cut the apple crosswise to find the star... Count the points and count the seeds. Continue cutting the apple crosswise into slices and cut the star out with an apple corer -- it's a circle. Then eat the apple donuts! Compare the sizes of the slices first. They can be arranged from smallest to largest!
• Oranges:
  Peel and separate the slices. Count before eating.
  Slice the orange crosswise and count the triangles.
• Bananas:
  Slice into circles and count them before eating. Be sure to notice the shape! You can use toothpicks to make banana lollipops! Find the biggest circles. Find the smallest circles.
  Count how many bananas are in the bunch... Take one off to eat. "How many are left?" 
  Discuss subtracting 1 from 5 (or however many were in the bunch.)
• Carrots:
  Count how many are in the bunch. Take one off to eat. 
  "How many are left?"
  Group carrots into groups of 2's or 3's before cooking or eating.
• Celery:
  Spread peanut butter in the trough of one of the smaller stalks. Let the child lay a row of raisins on the peanut butter - counting while they go... Bugs on a log! (Tastes pretty good too!)

• Make Rice Krispy Treats:
  The child can help measure the cereal and marshmallows in cups after finding the number in the recipe on the box. After preparation, the child can help help put the mix into a square, rectangular or round (circle) pan. Let the child help decide how many servings to make...
  "Should we make 3 or 4 cuts this way?" 
  "How many the other way?" 
  "How many squares (or rectangles) did we cut?" 
  They can be counted as they are put onto a serving plate too.
• Make Jello:
  Again, find the numbers in the recipe on the box and have the child help with the measuring. Count the cups of water going in while the child stirs. Decide the shape of the dish to use. If you put less water in, you can cut the jello into squares or other shapes (try triangles!) You can also cut the jello with hollow cookie cutters.
• Sandwiches:
  Teach shapes by cutting a sandwich into different shapes - squares, rectangles or triangles. You can use a hollow cookie cutter to make a circle sandwich. Let the child choose and name the shapes.
• Number Pancakes:
  They're pretty easy to make - for a grown-up, anyway. Pour out a number on the skillet - it will have to be backwards! Let it cook a bit until it has browned a little. Then pour a regular pancake over the number. When you flip it, you'll see a number in the pancake! Making letters, hearts and faces is fun too!

• Count table settings (plates, bowls, glasses, utensils, etc.), napkins, names the shapes of the items and the table (the plate is a circle).

• Have the child help set the table - He/she will need to count the family members and the settings while doing so.

• "How many books should we read?"
  Ask the child to bring you a specific number of books to read.
  Count things on the pages.
  Keep track of the page numbers. 
  "What page number are we on?"
• Count letters in names! This is great to help teach them to spell their own name. 
  "How many letters did you write?"
  "Did you leave a letter out?"
• Going to the local library is great fun! Tell them how many books they get to pick and have them count as they make their selections. Tell the check out person that you are learning to count and have her count them as she scans them.

• Estimating is a very important skill and can be done during many of the other activities we've discussed...
• "How many crackers do you think Mommy gave you?" 
  "15?" 
  "Ok, let's count them and see how close you were."
• After measuring the child, have them guess how tall you are. Then measure and check.
• "How many M&M's do you think are in this bag?"
• Always discuss how close the child's estimate is to the actual amount. It's good for you to make an estimate too and explain to them how you made your guess. This will help them to learn the art of estimating.

• Make a Fruit Loop necklace! Get some yarn and thread the Fruit Loops. Have the child help measure the string with a ruler. Show them the inches and count from 1 inch to about 30 inches. To make the stringing easier, wrap some tape around one end of the yard for easy threading. Count each one as it gets put on. The fun part is making a pattern! Put on 2 oranges, then 1 green, then 2 oranges, then 1 green. Have the child create their own patterns. You can create patterns and have them try to copy them.
• Clapping in rhythm and patterns - Clap 3 times, then pats your legs. Do it again! You can do lots of things with this. Clap 3 times, then pause a beat, then clap 2 times. Do it again. Count while you clap. Later, the child can count while clapping.
• Simon Says is a great game to play too! It's kind of like patterning.

• "How many shapes of street signs can you find?" (Stop signs are octagons, yield signs are diamonds, etc.)
• "Can you find shapes in other signs?"
  (There is a ton of geometry in store and gas station signs. For example, Target stores have the big bull's eye that is made of circles.)
• "Let's go on a Number Hunt! Tell me when you see some numbers."
• "I need to know what the speed limit on this street is. Can you find the speed limit sign for me?"
• "Let's see who can find 10 red cars first!"
• Play the license plate game with numbers or letters:
  Have them look for a 1 on a license plate. Then have them find a 2, then a 3 and so on.
  It's great for letters too! Find the A first, then a B and so on.
  Several kids can compete... Once a letter or number on a plate is "called" by one child, the others cannot use that plate and will have to wait for another chance. Whoever gets to 9 (or to Z) first, wins!

• Finding Numbers:
  Have a Number Hunt! 
  "How many places in the house can you find numbers?"
  On clocks, calendars, the phone, remote controls, timers, rulers, etc.
• Telling Time:
  "What time is your favorite program?"
  "It's in 15 minutes!"
  "How far will this (clock) hand have to move before your show starts?"
• Calendars:
  How many days in a week? How many months? Notice odd and even days. How many days until a special event?
• Measure:
  Keep track of height and weight and explain to the child how you are doing it. Then have the child work out how she is, etc.
  Always be sure to show kids how you are using the ruler when you are doing projects.
• Sorting:
  Use egg cartons or muffin tins to sort things like buttons, beads, etc. (see snack time) Remove some and count what's left.

• UNO - Have them deal too!
• Go Fish - Teaches counting, sorting and grouping.
• Crazy Eights - Like UNO, but you can do it with a regular deck of cards.
• Dominoes
• Bingo
• Yahtzee