How to Teach Counting to Preschoolers Using Toys

Last Updated on August 16, 2025 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Learn how to teach counting to preschoolers using toys. This collection of math activities is playful and fun, for home or school!

You know all those toys you have in your classroom or home? They make easy learning activities! Recently I wrote a guest post over at the Melissa & Doug blog showing how toddlers and preschoolers can learn how to count with toys. You can take all of a toy, or just pieces from a toy, even mixing several toys together.

While writing on the Melissa & Doug blog, I realized it would be fun to find other ways to create simple math activities using toys you already have.

How to Teach Counting to Preschoolers Using Toys

More counting activities using toys:

I decided to have even more fun with this and check out how other bloggers have used toys for counting activities.

Counting Trains: Use your child’s toy train collection for a hands-on manipulative to use to learn simple math skills like counting, 1:1 correspondence, and addition/ subtraction. (School Time Snippets)

Counting and Measuring with Lego: Using numbered lego blocks is great for recognizing numbers, counting, ordering, and measuring. (The Imagination Tree)

Car Parking Lot Math Game: Play this parking lot game with your next transportation themed unit or just for fun! (Life Over C’s)

Counting Game: Use your choice of small toys for this fun kids number game. (B-Inspired Mama for Kids Activities Blog)

Playroom Count and Match: Find enough items from the playroom that are obviously alike for the groupings, sort and then count! (No Time for Flashcards)

Transportation Graphing: Round up some different “modes” of transportation for this graphing activity. Sort by land, sea and air. (I Can Teach My Child)