Learning counting with worksheets can be boring for some children.
Teaching number sense should not bring children to tears.
Make math fun.
Making math fun helps make it relevant to any child, but especially children with attention issues or who might struggle more learning math concepts.
One way I made math more fun for my preschool through first grade children is to use board games to teach math.
Use Candy Land to teach counting skills.
How to Make Candy Land a Counting Game
- Cover the board with clear contact paper.
- Work with your child to write the numbers with a wet erase marker in order on the spaces.
- It is best to use a wet erase marker, so the numbers don’t erase as you are playing the game. Use a dry erase marker if you plan to erase the numbers right away.
- There are over 100 spaces in Candy Land. Depending on your child’s attention and ability levels this may need to be completed over several days or you can take turns writing numbers.
- Play the game.
- As you land on each space, verbally name the number. If your child doesn’t know the number, identify the number.
- Some numbers will be upside down depending on where your child sits, and your child may need to move to read the number.
Possible Math Discussion Questions
- How many spaces until you reach Candy Castle?
- How many spaces between the players pawns?
- How many spaces did you move backwards?
- How many spaces did you just move?
- How many spaces between you and Lord Licorice?
- How many spaces between you and Grandma Nut?
- What number are you on now? How many spaces until you reach X number?
More Fun Counting Ideas
Use Baked Cotton Balls as Counting Manipulative
The Chicken Problem Counting Sensory Bin
Counting to 100 Scavenger Hunt
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