HOMER Activity Center

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Number Games

Number Hunt:

  • Challenge your child to find an item or a group of items. For example, ask them to find one teddy, two socks, and three balls. Start with one group of items at a time.

  • Tip: Too tricky? Start by searching for just one item (one teddy bear, one ball, etc.). Then try pairs (two socks, two shoes, etc.)

Hopscotch:

  • Use chalk to draw a hopscotch grid on the pavement outside. Then, throw a rock onto one of the numbered squares. Encourage your child to hop through the squares, skipping the square with the stone.

  • You can make it extra fun by drawing your grid as a series of numbered circles or zig-zag with numbered squares.

  • If your child isn’t counting yet, place the marker on a square and ask them to hop to it.  Count their hops out loud as they go. When they get there, you can celebrate that they hopped X number of times!

Is it a Number?

  • Coat a cookie sheet with a thin layer of shaving cream.

  • Draw a number and a shape with your finger. (Avoid using the number 0 and a circle or oval since they look so similar!). 

  • Ask your child to identify the number by asking: “Which one is a number?”

  • If your child is below the age of 2, you can start by simply drawing a letter OR a shape and asking, “Is it a number?”  Then, increase the difficulty by putting the number and shapes side by side. 

  • When your child gets the answer correct, they get to mush away the shape and the number and play again!

  • For extra-messy fun, guide your child’s hand as they draw a shape and a number.

Find a Number

  • Write the numbers 1 to 10 on ten individual index cards and then write ten letters on ten more (20 index cards total). 

  • Turn the cards upside down, and mix them up.

  • Ask your child to pick a card, saying, “Let’s see if we can find a number.” If it’s a number, let out a cheer and say, “You found a number!”

  • If it’s a letter, you can turn the cards over, and your child gets to try again.

  • If it seems a little advanced for your child, start with four cards (two numbers and two letters) and build up from there.

Skills Spotlight

  • Numbers, counting, sensory skills, gross motor skills, memory skills

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