Practice Counting with Paperclips

If your preschooler needs counting practice, try this pared-down game. Kids count the clips in each cup and match the count with a playing card of the same number. Requiring minimal set-up, this game is ideal for on-the-fly counting practice.

What You Need:

• Large colored plastic paper clips in 5 colors
• 5 cups
• Numbered cards from 1 to 10 (you can use playing cards or make your own using markers and index cards)

What You Do:

1. Place the cups in a row on the table.
2. Put the colored clips in the cups, one color per cup, varying the number of clips in each one.
3. Ask your child to count the clips in the first cup. How many does he count?
4. Have him find the numbered card that matches the number of clips he counted and place it in front of the cup.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the remaining 4 cups. Did he count correctly each time?