Here is a simple math activity that you can customize to your child's skill level. The dollar store has a great selection of cupcake liners and aluminum cupcake tins. I buy lots of cupcake liners because I love to use them for meals to hold small items and to add to my kid's lunch at school for a fun treat. They can also be used for practicing math as we did here in this Counting Game with Buttons. We love to practice counting with fun games like this Counting By 10's Game and Counting Games and Activities.
![Counting Game with Buttons - an easy way to help preschoolers with their counting skills.](https://www.messforless.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/counting-game-with-buttons.jpg)
Counting Game with Buttons
Supplies You Will Need:
- Muffin tin
- Muffin Cups
- Buttons or some other small objects
- Marker
![buttons and muffin tins](https://www.messforless.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_0362.jpg)
Write some numbers on some muffin cups. I started with 4 and went through 9. For more of a challenge you can used a 12 count muffin cup and make bigger numbers. Place the numbered muffin cups in the muffin tin. Give your child an assortment of buttons or other small objects and have them put the appropriate number into each muffin tin. Some other objects you can use as counters: pasta, beads, mini marshmallows...
My youngest did not get the one-to-one correspondence, but she had fun putting the buttons in the various cups. She loves to do what her big sisters are doing and her mind she is doing it perfectly.
![kids counting game](https://www.messforless.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_0403.jpg)
B really concentrated on getting just the right number of buttons in each muffin cup.
![kids counting](https://www.messforless.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_0410.jpg)
When the kids were finished we dumped out the buttons in each cup and counted them to check their work. They were very excited when they had the correct number of buttons.
![counting games](https://www.messforless.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_0412.jpg)
This counting game with buttons was an inexpensive kids activity that can be done using a variety of objects. I love how you can customize it according to season or your child's interest.
des-petits-pas
Hello !
Do you know where I can get button like these ?
Thxs !
Vicky
Thank you everyone for the kind words and pins! XO
Gaby Godoy de Porras
OMG, the pin i made this morning has been a success! It's been there for 2 hours and has already been repinned 35 times, and has many likes! Just wanted to let you know =) http://pinterest.com/pin/29414203786444852/
Gaby Godoy de Porras
What a great idea!!!! definitely pinning it!
Rebekah
Great math activity! I am putting this on my Math Play Pinterest board.
Growing a Jeweled Rose
I love this simple idea! I can throw this together for my daughter to play with while I cook 🙂
Emily
Fun and simple! We will have to do this! Thanks for sharing!