15 Ways to Teach Preschool Math without Worksheets

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Teaching preschool math should be fun, engaging, and hands-on! You’d be surprised how quickly preschoolers can grasp a math concept when they’re having fun!

Hands-On Preschool Math Activities

While two of my three kids loved workbooks and worksheets, my middle child was a hands-on learner. Writing made him grumpy. Workbooks were the enemy. So, I spent a lot of time coming up with fun and creative ways to engage him in his math lessons.

We had geoboards and teddy bear counters. We incorporated his Hot Wheels and G.I. Joe figures. I encouraged lots and lots of movement. And it worked! By the time he started upper-level math, he was ready to take off.

So, if you have a hands-on, kinesthetic learner like me, you’ll love this list of hands-on ways you can teach math to your preschoolers!

Bottle Cap Math | This low-prep math game is a great way to practice number recognition with your hands-on preschoolers.

LEGO Math | These hands-on activities focus on number identification, counting, beginning addition and subtraction, and much more!

Teach Math with Race Cars | This list includes ideas for teaching weight, measurement, speed, and story problems with race cars.

Domino Math | There are many math skills you can teach with dominos. Grab a box and click over to discover six simple domino math ideas for kids.

Cupcake Math | “Hands-on learning activities like these “cupcake sums” are not only fun, but work on fine motor skills AND mathematical concepts!”

Kitchen Math | Preschoolers adore baking, cooking, and mixing up a batch of cookies to eat. I know my own kids never get enough of the kitchen, which makes kitchen math perfect for this age group!

Sequencing | In order to understand that events occur in a natural order, young minds need to have a good grasp of sequencing. Sequencing is the understanding of the order in which related events, movements, or things follow each other.

UNO | Playing Uno doesn’t just teach preschoolers the academic skills of colors and numbers, it also teaches preschoolers how to be good sports when they play.

Play I Spy | Playing I Spy games with our preschoolers is an absolute blast! It’s also an excellent way of teaching and reviewing letters, numbers, colors, and more with our kids.

Ice Cream Math | Adding pom-poms to paper ice cream cones is a great way to practice counting!

Patterning | With some counters (plastic ones from the Dollar Tree and mini erasers from Target work well), preschoolers can work on all kinds of patterning skills.

Stair Jumping Game | Try playing the stair jumping game the next time your little one is bouncing off the walls. You can burn off some energy and teach math skills.

Calendar Skills | I’ve been amazed at how many lesson plans include learning to use a calendar when my kids learn the skill at an early age. I have never included calendar lessons in our math lessons or morning times. Yet all six kids easily and painlessly learned to use a calendar.

Scavenger Hunt | A spontaneous scavenger hunt will keep your child entertained for quite some time while improving their vocabulary, math skills, imagination, and memory.

Addition | With just two simple tools, you can set up this fun math activity that teaches subitizing, counting, and addition in one simple game.

What is your favorite way to teach preschool math without worksheets?

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