The Ultimate Guide of Number Activities: 25 Hands-on, Sensory-based ways to practice learning, writing and identifying numbers
- Gina
- Sep 29
- 11 min read
In this BLOG post I will teach you 25 different ways to learn, explore and play with numbers.
Learning numbers doesn’t have to mean sitting still with flashcards or doing a worksheet. One of the most powerful ways children absorb number knowledge is through movement, touch, and play.
This post rounds up 25 hands-on, sensory-rich activities that turn learning numbers and counting into a full-body experience, perfect for preschoolers, kindergartners, and any child who thrives through exploration.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or caregiver, these ideas will help you spark curiosity, build foundational math skills, and make letter learning irresistibly fun. I included as many printable resources as possible throughout the post.
Click HERE for our favorite number tools for learning and play!
A Play Filled Life is part of an affiliate program and may receive a small commission on eligible products at no extra cost to you.
Magnetic Numbers
Materials:
Magnetic Chips and wand (Linked HERE)
Step 1: Download and print the number cards. Print multiple copies if working on numbers past 10.
Step 2: Cut out the cards and determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: Use your finger to trace the number(s).
Step 4: Place the magnetic chips around the lines and curves of the number. Use the wand to swipe them away, mimicking the way you would write the numbers!
Magnets are a choking hazard. You get to decide what is safe and manageable in your home. Always monitor young children.
Frozen Numbers
Materials:
Ice cube tray or bowl
Plastic or silicone numbers (our favorites are linked HERE!)
Sensory tray or bowl
Tools to rescue the objects (pipette, paint brush, tongs, wooden mallet, squirt bottle)
Step 1: Grab a plastic or metal bowl, an ice cube tray, a silicone mold or a cake/baking pan.
Step 2: Add in your favorite plastic or silicone numbers & add water. Food coloring is optional; a few drops go a long way.
Step 3: Freeze for a few hours (length will depend on size and shape that you use.)
Step 4: Once frozen, place in a sensory tray or bowl, add medicine droppers, pipettes, squirt bottles or wooden mallets. Also add a few cups or a bowl or warm water.
Step 5: Rescue your numbers!! Squirt, squeeze & bang away until they are free of the ice!
I-Spy Number Bottles
Materials:
Step 1: Download and print the number mats. Laminate for durability, if possible.
Step 2: Pour rice into your plastic bottle, leaving about an inch at the top.
Step 3: Fill with number beads. Put the lid back on securely and shake well to mix the beads into the rice.
Step 4: Move the I-Spy bottle around, searching for numbers as you do. Once you find the letter, cross it off your number mat.
There are TWO different number mats: bold numbers and tracing numbers.
Salt Writing Tray
Materials:
Step 1: Sprinkle a thin layer of salt on the tray. It should be just enough to cover the surface.
Step 2: Print out number cards.
Step 3: Use your finger or a dry paint brush to practice writing the numbers.
Play Dough Building
Materials:
Step 1: Download and print the number cards.
Step 2: Cut out the cards and determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: Use your finger to trace the number.
Step 4: Roll the play dough into "snakes" and use it to form the numbers. Talk about the number, count to the number, make connections as you play and explore.
Want to make your own play dough? Try the BEST play dough recipe ever. Click HERE!!
Erase the Number
Materials:
Chalkboard
Chalk
Sponge (cut into small pieces)
Number cards (FREE download HERE)
Step 1: Download and print the number cards.
Step 2: Cut out the cards and determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: Depending on the child's age, have them write the number with chalk or write it for them, if they are not quite there yet.
Step 4: Wet the sponge and squeeze out the excess water. Use the sponge to trace the number, erasing the lines as you go. This is a fun and simple way to work on fine motor skills and writing practice.
Loose Parts Number Building
Materials:
Loose parts
Number Cards (FREE download linked (HERE)
Step 1: Download and print the number cards.
Step 2: Cut out the cards and determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: Use your finger to trace the number.
Step 4: Use loose parts to form the numbers. We used counting bears (Linked HERE) but you can use anything that you have: craft pom poms, small plastic animals, gems, rocks, erasers etc.
Want to extend your learning? Count how many counting bears it takes to form the number!
Hole Punch Numbers
Materials:
Hole punch
Scissors
Hole Punch Number cards (FREE download HERE)
Step 1: Download and print the hole punch number cards.
Step 2: Cut out the cards and determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: Use your finger (or a pencil) to trace the numbers in the center.
Step 4: Look around the card and find the numbers that match. Use your hole punch to stamp the matching numbers!
Don't have a hole punch? Use a marker to cross out the matching numbers.
Number Play Dough Puzzles
Materials:
Play dough
Sensory tray or baking sheet
Plastic or silicone numbers (our favorite numbers are linked HERE!)
Step 1: Flatten your play dough onto the tray.
Step 2: Take the numbers and smoosh them into the dough, then remove them and place them on the side. There should be number imprints!
Step 3: Now you have a puzzle! Look at the imprints and match the numbers in the dough.
Step 4: Be sure to talk about the names of the numbers as you go!
Want to make your own play dough? Try the BEST play dough recipe ever. Click HERE!!
Sensory Bag Numbers
Materials:
Gallon size Ziploc Bag
Washable paint or shaving cream
Painters tape
Number Cards (FREE download linked (HERE)
Step 1: Print out the cards and laminate for durability (if possible).
Step 2: In the Ziploc bag, squirt just enough paint or shaving cream to create a thin layer inside the bag. Get out all of the air and seal it. Use the tape to secure it closed and/or tape it down to your surface.
Step 3: Pick a few numbers to work on. Trace the numbers with your finger. Then, use your finger to trace the number on the sensory bag.
This is a great mess-free way to incorporate sensory play into learning!
Frozen Fizzy Numbers Fun
Materials:
Number Ice cube tray/mold (Mold linked HERE)
Sensory tray or bowl
Baking soda
Water
White vinegar
Pipette or medicine dropper
Food coloring (optional)
Glitter (optional)
Step 1: Grab a number silicone mold.
Step 2: In a bowl, mix 2 cups baking soda and 1/2 cup of water. Mix.
Step 3: Fill the mold with the mixture. Freeze for a few hours until solid. You may need more/less mixture depending on the size of your mold.
Step 4: Once frozen, place in a sensory tray or bowl. In a cup or bowl, mix together half water and half white vinegar. If you are using food coloring, squirt 3-5 drops in now.
Step 5: Use a pipette or medicine dropper and squirt the mixture onto the numbers. Watch as they bubble and fizz!
Play Dough Number Stamping
Materials:
Play dough
Sensory tray or baking sheet
Number stamps (Linked HERE)
Step 1: Flatten your play dough onto the tray.
Step 2: Use the stamps to smoosh and stamp into the dough.
You can use them to just play: simply stamping and smooshing is such great fine motor work and exposure.
If you want to extend your learning:
Call out a number and have them find it and stamp it.
Tap one time and have them find the number one. Tap two times and have them find the number two and so on.
Show them different groups of items. Have them count them and match the number.
Want to make your own play dough? Try the BEST play dough recipe ever. Click HERE!!
Wiki Stixx Numbers
Materials:
Wikki stix
Number Cards (FREE download linked (HERE)
Step 1: Download and print the number cards.
Step 2: If possible, laminate for durability. Cut out the cards and determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: Use the Wikki Stix to build the numbers, right on top of the cards. Follow the straight and curvy lines with the wikki stix. Talk about the name of the number and practice saying its name and counting to it.
Step 4: Pull the wikki stix off and save again for next time.
Sensory Bin Matching Mat
Materials:
Step 1: Pour your base into your sensory bin or bowl.
Step 2: Add in your numbers and mix around.
Step 3: Print out the number mats and choose which one to use. You can match upper to uppercase letters, upper to lowercase and/or work on writing.
You can use them to just play: simply stamping and smooshing is such great fine motor work and exposure.
If you want to extend your learning:
Call out a number and have them find it and match it.
Count until you reach a certain number and pause; have them figure out what number comes next and find it and match it.
For added fine motor work, use tongs or tweezers to pick up the letters and place them on the mat!
If you want to learn how to dye a dry sensory base, read our blog post HERE!
Magnet Tile Match
Materials:
Magnet tiles (3 per number)
Tape
Scissors
Math Number Puzzles (Linked HERE)
Step 1: Download and print out the number puzzles.
Step 2: If you are able, laminate for durability. Cut on the dotted lines; each number puzzle has three pieces: a numeral, a ten frame and tally marks.
Step 3: If using magnet tiles, you will need 3 for each puzzle. Use painters tape to secure one puzzle square to each magnet tile. Mix them all around and play!
Start by finding the number: for example 5.
Next, search for the ten frame that represent the number five and connect them.
Lastly, search for the tally marks that represent the number. Connect them and you will have a complete puzzle!
Alternative ways to extend your learning and play:
Cut the number puzzles out and flip them over so the picture-side is down. Take turns flipping over 3 pieces at a time, trying to make a puzzle match!
Hide the pieces around your home. Search, find and put the puzzles together!
Put the puzzles together and then put them in numerical order.
What Number is Missing?
Materials:
Craft sticks
Clothespins
Sharpie marker
Step 1: Using a sharpie, write the numbers across the craft stick. The amount of numbers will depend on the size of the craft stick and the size of your font! When you are writing, leave a few numbers blank, those are the ones the kids will fill in!
Step 2: Whichever numbers you left blank, you will write on the clothespins.
For example: if your craft stick says 1, 2, 3, _, 5, _, 7, 8
Then your clothespins need to have a 4 and 6 on them.
Step 3: Make several variations. Spread the clothespins around the table or floor, give the child a craft stick and have them fill them in.
Ways to differentiate instruction:
If you have a beginning learner, keep the numbers low (0-9).
If they are passed that, explore counting backwards and teen numbers.
You could work on skip counting (by 2's, 5's and 10's).
You could work on transitional numbers (going from 29 to 30, 59 to 60 etc).
Magical Paper Towel Numbers
Materials:
Paper towels
Washable marker
Pipette
Water
Sensory tray or baking sheet
Small bowl or cup
Step 1: Fold a paper towel in half. Use the marker and write a number on it.
Step 2: Fill a small bowl/cup with water and put a pipette in it. A medicine dropper would also work for this!
Step 3: Squeeze the water into the pipette and slowly squirt it on the number. Try focusing on formation: follow the lines of the number as if you were writing. This is great for muscle memory!
Watch as the magical number spreads on the paper towel!
Step 4: Repeat with additional numbers!
Number Soup
Materials:
Sensory tray or bowl
Water
Scoops
Bowls
Plastic or silicone letters
Step 1:Fill the sensory tray or bowl halfway with water.
Step 2: Add in numbers, scoops and bowls. PLAY!
Number Towers
Materials:
Step 1: Download and print the number mat.
Step 2: Trace the numbers with your fingers. You can also trace them with pencil, crayon or marker (or expo marker, if laminated).
Step 3: Use the unifix cubes to build towers on each number. If the number is five, put a stack of 5 on it.
This is great for motor skills, visualizing numbers as well as comparing numbers.
Unifix cubes can also be used to work on:
counting
sorting
making and extending patterns
sound matching
building
motor skills practice
Swat It Game
Materials:
Number Cards (Linked HERE)
Fly swatter OR spatula
Step 1: Download and print the number cards.
Step 2: Cut them out and spread them out around the floor or table.
Step 3: Call out a number and use the fly swatter to "swat it!"
Ways to add more movement in:
Clap one time. Have them listen for the claps and swat the number. Swat four times, etc.
Hide the numbers around your house. Search, find and put them in numerical order.
Toss pom poms around the house in corresponding colors. Find the pom poms and place them on the circles, matching by color.
Flip the cards upside down. Turn over one card at a time. Identify the number and then do that many movements (jumping jacks, hopping on one foot, squats, toe touches etc.)
Tactile Number Cards
Materials:
Cardboard
Xacto knife
Hot glue gun
Pipe cleaners
Pom Poms
Step 1: Use the xacto knife to cut the cardboard into 'flashcard' size pieces. You will need ten pieces, eleven if you make a zero.
Step 2: Form each number with a pipe cleaner. Some may have to be cut down to size, in order to fit.
Step 3: Hot glue the pipe cleaners down to the cardboard.
Step 4: Glue down a corresponding number of pom poms to each flashcard.
These are a fun way to add sensory goodness into your learning. Trace the fuzzy pipe cleaners with your finger, working on number recognition and writing skills. Touch each pom pom, while you could and work on 1:1 correspondence.
Put them in numerical order. Count them. Trace them. Use them as a guide to learn and explore numbers with!
Shaving Cream Writing
Materials:
Step 1: Download and print the number cards.
Step 2: If possible, laminate for durability. Cut out the cards and determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: Squirt shaving cream on your sensory tray. You want just enough to cover the tray in a thin layer; if you use too much it will be hard to write in!
Step 4: Using your finger, practice drawing the numbers in the shaving cream. Wipe away and keep practicing!
If your child is sensory sensitive, use a dry paintbrush to draw in the shaving cream, instead of their finger.
Number Writing and Building Mats
Materials:
Play dough
Pencil
Apple Build and Trace Mats (Linked HERE)
Step 1: Download and print the build and trace mats.
Step 2: If possible, laminate for durability. Determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: If laminated, use a dry erase marker to trace the numbers. If not, use a pencil or marker.
Step 4: Roll balls of play dough to make 'apples' on the tree to represent each number.
Dot Marker Number Hunt
Materials:
Dot marker number mats (linked HERE)
Dot markers
Step 1: Download and print the build and trace mats.
Step 2: If possible, laminate for durability. Determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: If laminated, use a dry erase marker to trace the numbers. If not, use a pencil or marker.
Step 4: Roll balls of play dough to make 'apples' on the tree to represent each number.
Q-Tip Writing
Materials:
Q-tip
Washable paint
Number cards (FREE download HERE)
Step 1: Download and print the number cards.
Step 2: Cut out the cards and determine which numbers you are working on.
Step 3: Use your finger to trace the number.
Step 4: Dip your q-tip in paint (even better fine motor work if you cut the q-tip in half! It puts fingers into the pincer grasp) and trace the numbers.
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