My son was able to recite the numbers 1-10 at 17 months. I remember him sitting in the high chair, waiting for his dinner to cool down, saying the numbers as I held my fingers up.
He did not learn with flashcards. He learned with natural and playful exposure. I wanted to ensure he used three of his senses, which were sight, hearing, and touch, when learning the numbers. It was important for him to see, hear, and touch them. It is possible to incorporate the sense of taste by making number cookies.
I will show you the educational toys for toddlers we used to naturally expose my son to numbers in a fun way. Additionally, there are explanations in how we used each toy or material.
Let’s Get Started!
Number Puzzles
- My son liked these types of puzzles because he was able to touch the numbers.
- Whenever he picked up a number, I would identify it.
- We would put them in order forwards and backwards.
- I also loved to hide them around the room and he would bring them to me.
- After he gave me the number, I would identify it until he could do it himself.
- Here are more options for number puzzles.
Play-Doh
- One of our favorite activities was to mold Play-Doh into numbers.
- After I molded the numbers, my son would identify them.
- You make also use Play-Doh templates when your child is first learning numbers.
Magnetic Numbers
- My son liked playing with these numbers on the refrigerator while I was cooking or preparing a snack.
- He sometimes would mix the numbers up and ask me to identify them.
- He liked to hold up a certain number and have me tell him its name.
- We would make up songs about the order of the numbers.
Flexi Rods
- I know this is not a toy but a hair product.
- We used this as a toy by bending them to make numbers.
- I have these at home but never used them.
- It is also a great hand strengthening activity for kids to prepare them for writing.
WikkiStix
- We used WikkiStix to form numbers.
- WikkiStix kept my son busy during a two-hour church service.
- After making numbers, we liked to make up stories about the numbers.
Leapfrog Learn and Groove Musical Mat
- This toy brings a physical component to numbers.
- This number instructs kids to step on a certain number while doing silly movements.
- My son and I loved racing each other to get to certain numbers.
- The music, colors, and commentary makes learning about numbers fun.
Mark D Pencil Learning with Hip Hip Educational Lessons
- Turn your car into an educational vehicle with this music.
- We like listening to this album in the car.
- It was a natural way for my son to learn how to count from 1-100.
- After hearing the number song many times, you will hear your child sing them while playing.
Children’s Books
- During our weekly trips to the library, I would get different number books.
- Reading various number books to your child will help them remember it in a natural way.
- They will get various perspectives on numbers from different authors’ points of view.
- We read over 60 number books.
- Below are five number books my son enjoyed…
- Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
- On the Launch Pad by Michael Dahl
- One is a Snail Ten is a Crab by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre
- Olivia Counts by Ian Falconer
- City by Numbers by Stephen T. Johnson
Have fun with these learning toys for toddlers!
Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“
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