![[Childcare] Learn Numbers Through Play! Ideas to Use in Early Childhood Education](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/bT_SI2xCnxA/maxresdefault.webp)
Some teachers may want to incorporate learning and education into childcare.
Also, it might be good for children to remember simple numbers in preparation for starting school.
However, for kindergarten and nursery school children, play is what matters most.
Many teachers may be wondering how to integrate numbers into childcare.
So this time, we’ll introduce ideas for number games that let children learn numbers while playing.
When play is enjoyable, children naturally absorb all kinds of things, right?
Be sure to incorporate number games and help children learn numbers in a fun way.
- [Childcare] Letter and word games: Introducing fun activities using hiragana
- [Childcare] Wordplay and game ideas everyone can enjoy together
- [For 2 Players] Easy Pen-and-Paper Time-Killing Game
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- [Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving
- Ideas for indoor activities and group games that 5-year-olds like
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- [Childcare] DIY Ideas for Circuit Play
- Recommended games and activities for five people
- [Childcare] From small to large groups! A collection of fun game ideas
- Useful for childcare! Today’s recommended recreational activities, including fingerplay and games!
- [Childcare] Recommended play ideas for caring for 2-year-olds
- [Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with
[Childcare] Learn numbers through play! Ideas to use in childcare (1–10)
Number Fishing Game
Try incorporating numbers into a fishing game.
Make fish with round stickers or similar labels showing numbers, and invite the children by saying, “Where’s the fish with number 1?” Have them take turns catching fish while counting together, or teach them the shapes of the numerals as they fish.
You can prepare multiple fish with the same number and have them search for and catch only that number.
If it’s hard for them to find the right fish, guide them using other features like color.
Since kids love fishing games, they’ll enjoy learning numbers in a fun way.
Number SongLyrics by: Yume Nijiji / Music by: Hajime Kotani
This is the “Numbers Song” (Sūji no Uta), which is also sung on NHK’s children’s program “Okaasan to Issho.” The lyrics associate each number’s shape with familiar things like animals and toys.
For example, the number 2 is a “duck,” and 3 is “ears.” Because the items are all things close to children, it’s easy to remember and lets them enjoy engaging with numbers as they sing.
If the child is old enough to hold a pencil, it might be nice to try writing the numbers while singing.
The song features the numbers 1 through 10.
Rolling egg carton
This is a game for learning the shapes of numbers.
You’ll make the materials using an egg carton.
First, attach pieces of construction paper labeled with the numbers 1–10 to each compartment of the carton.
If you use different colors for each number, it will make it easier to support kids who are just starting to learn numbers.
Roll up paper into small balls, secure them with tape, and place them in the compartments.
You can use marbles instead.
Tape the egg carton closed so it doesn’t open, and you’re done.
To help children get used to the numbers, make several of these and let them play freely.
Spindle box
The spindle box is one of the Montessori materials.
It’s a box with compartments labeled with the numbers 0–10, and children place sticks or similar items into each section to learn numbers.
By saying the numbers out loud and visually matching the numeral 1 with a quantity, children can also grasp that 0 means “nothing.” It’s simple but very easy to understand.
You can even make a similar version by hand using recycled materials like milk cartons, so why not try incorporating it into your childcare activities? It doesn’t have to be sticks—anything you can prepare in multiples will work.
[Fingerplay Song] Five Melon Buns
![[Fingerplay Song] Five Melon Buns](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n9g7W2rMz7s/sddefault.jpg)
This is a fun fingerplay song that helps children count using melon bread (melonpan).
Use your right hand to show the numbers, and your left hand to act out the people coming to buy melon bread.
Each time someone comes, fold down one finger on your right hand and say “four left,” “three left,” and so on, decreasing the number.
By playing with this song, children can interact with the numbers 1 through 5, understand number size (that 4 is smaller than 5), and sense quantity as the melon bread decreases.
It also provides practice with subtraction learned in elementary school, so be sure to sing and play along for a fun learning experience!
Number building blocks
Let’s have fun learning numbers using building blocks made from milk cartons! You can make as many blocks as you like, but since the blocks get larger as the numbers get bigger, a set from 1 to 5 is probably best for kids to play with.
Even if they don’t know the numbers at first, try stacking them from small to large while saying, “The biggest one goes on top.” Of course, you can also just let them play freely, and if they show interest in the numbers written on the blocks, explain them then.
Milk cartons by themselves can look plain, so try decorating them with construction paper, stickers, and other materials.
[Fingerplay Song] One Little Ghost
![[Fingerplay Song] One Little Ghost](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r9c3tnuddZU/sddefault.jpg)
Let me introduce a ghost-themed play song that kids love.
Each time the lyrics repeat, one more ghost joins in, and the parts you sway increase too—hands, feet, and head.
The idea that the ghosts come to scare you once there are five adds a thrilling touch that kids will likely enjoy.
This song also works great for Halloween, so it could be fun to have children dressed as ghosts join one by one while singing and dancing.
Move your body, have fun, and learn the numbers from 1 to 5!