Make Your Own Beanbag Game

Children love the challenge of trying to toss objects. As they practice, they develop more accuracy. With this homemade beanbag set, your kids will also work on number and set recognition as they make the rules in their own game!

What You Need:

• 5 large coffee cans or cans the same size
• Duct tape
• Self-adhesive paper
• Permanent marker
• Colored tape or hook-sided velcro
• 15 socks (with no holes)
• Beans
• Large basket

What to Do:

1. Collect five large coffee cans or cans that are the same size. Make sure the metal rim is free of jagged edges or cover the edges with duct tape.
2. Cover the cans with self-adhesive paper.
3. Draw the numerals 1 through 5 on the front of each can and mark the corresponding number of dots on each can.
4. Make 15 bean bags. Use old white athletic socks with no holes in the toes. Fill them from toe to heel with beans. Tie-off the sock or sew it closed.  
5. Use a permanent marker to write the numeral: 1 on five of the socks; 2 on four of the socks; 3 on three of the socks; 4 on two of the socks; and 5 on one of the socks.
6. Put the corresponding number of dots on each sock.
7. Place the bean bags in a large basket. Affix a colored tape (or velcro) throw line to the floor and mark the location for the cans to be placed with colored tape (or velcro) on the floor.
8. Provide no directions or goals other than to tell them to toss the beanbags in the cans. Let the children decide how they want to play!

The numbering scheme is only to allow the children to create their own games. Counting is not necessarily the object of this activity. There are many ways they can play. At first they may just toss the beanbags in the can. Later they may match the numbers. Later, some children may put the same number of beanbags in the can as the numeral written on the can. Some of the children may start keeping score, but this is up to the children.