Animal Counting Race: A Fun Math Game for Toddlers
Turn counting practice into a fun game with this Animal Counting Race! This easy math activity helps toddlers learn numbers while keeping them engaged and excited about early math skills.
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The Importance of Counting (and How to Make It Fun)
We all know numbers matter, but letās be honestācounting can feel a little… well, repetitive. And toddlers? They aren’t exactly known for their patience with repetition. The trick? Make it playful. When counting turns into a game, kids donāt even realize theyāre laying the foundation for math skills theyāll use for life.
Why Counting Actually Matters (Beyond Just Reciting Numbers)
Counting isnāt just about saying āone, two, threeā on autopilot. It helps little minds grasp big concepts like:
- Number recognition ā learning that ā5ā isnāt just a squiggle on a page but represents an actual amount.
- One-to-one correspondence ā understanding that each number matches one item (aka, counting objects instead of just rattling off numbers like a song).
- Cardinality ā realizing the last number they say is how many are in the set.
- Number order ā because ā1, 2, 3, 4ā makes sense, but ā1, 5, 2, 9ā is a math disaster waiting to happen.
- Basic addition & subtraction ā sneaky early math skills that build from counting.
- Number sense ā that gut feeling for how numbers work together.
The best part? You donāt need worksheets or flashcards to teach these. You just need a little creativity.
Enter: The Animal Counting Race
If youāve got magnetic tiles and some animal toys (or anything that āracesā), youāre all set for a game that makes counting actually fun.
What Youāll Need:
- 24 magnetic tiles (two rows of 12 for the āracetrackā)
- Two animal toys (or cars, figurines, anything that moves)
- A foam die (or any dice you have)
How to Play:
- Set up two rows of 12 tilesāthis is your racetrack.
- Place an animal at the starting line of each track.
- Roll the die, count the dots together, and move your animal forward that many spaces.
- Take turns rolling and moving.
- First to the finish line wins!
Learning (Without Even Trying)
Learning happens best when kids don’t even realize it’s happening, and this game is the perfect example. Beyond counting, it sneaks in a few key skills. Turn-taking becomes part of the fun, teaching patience even when youāre racing like a lion. Number recognition is reinforced as kids see and say numbers, providing double the learning. And basic addition also gets in the mix, as kids figure out that two rolls of 3 and 4 add up to seven spaces. All of this happens while theyāre simply playing and having fun. So, grab some magnetic tiles, choose your fastest animal, and let the counting race begin!



Hey, I’m Katelyn, the “Achievably Extra” Mom! Join me for creative family fun and practical tips! Let’s inspire each other!


