Montessori Activity: Teaching Basic Counting to Toddlers with Small Stones

Age: From 2.5 years old (Level 3)

Activity Duration: 10 minutes

Objective(s):

1. To teach counting.
2. To train number recognition

Materials:

1. 1-5 number typed or hand-written cards in a container
2. 15 small stones in a container
3. 1 tray

Directions:

1. Demonstrate to your child by putting out the number magnets or cards in order from 1 to 5, reciting the name of the number as you go along.

2. Allocate 1 glass stone, count 1 and place it in front of the number 1 magnet. Then allocate 2 glass stones, count it a loud and place it in front of the number 2 magnet. Do the same for the rest of the number.

3. Put back the materials into the respective containers and encourage your child to try.

Additional Information:

Why pay so much for Montessori materials when you can use glass stones. But why pay for glass stones, when you can use ordinary stones (unless you are vain like me, and bought those glass stones)!!!

J could now say from 1 to 10 in Mandarin Chinese (however he keeps missing out the number 4). He also could count from 1-2, and occasionally 3. So I thought I will try out this activity and see how it goes.