Age guide: 3 to 8 years. Start with numbers up to five for the youngest.
Counting feels different when your feet are involved. These six games use a hallway, a garden or a stretch of pavement to turn numbers into something children walk, hop and jump through. If you want a gentler way into the idea of quantity first, see counting objects, not just reciting numbers.
Before you begin
Use a dry, non-slip floor or soft ground. Put tape, paper squares or chalk where children will not trip. Keep the squares big enough for a foot, and keep hopping to a few goes at a time.
1. Toss and hop
You need: a row of squares numbered 1 to 10 and a beanbag or rolled sock.
Your child tosses the beanbag onto the row. They then hop along the line, counting aloud, until they reach the number their beanbag landed on. They pick it up, turn round and hop back, counting again. The next player goes. For older children, keep a running total of the numbers they land on.
2. Puddle hop
You need: up to ten hoops or chalk circles with the numbers 1 to 10.
It has been raining and the hoops are puddles. To get home, your child splashes through the puddles in order, from 1 to 10, saying each number as they land. One child per puddle at a time. If someone jumps out of order, help them fix it together. To raise the challenge, hop on one foot.
3. The numbered path
You need: ten sheets of paper numbered 1 to 10, scattered inside a rope circle.
The aim is to step on every number in order using only your feet. Only one person is in the circle at a time. Give the team a few minutes to plan a path, and then try it. Rearrange the papers and see whether they want to change their plan.
4. Count and jump
You need: two people and soft ground.
Face each other and hold hands. Pick a number, then count together as you jump once for every count. To link maths to the calendar, jump the number of today’s date. Keep jumps small and stop if anyone feels dizzy.
5. The life-size board game
You need: spots of paper or chalk in a loop, a large die and a few challenge cards.
Make a circle of squares. Every fifth square has a challenge, such as four hops, three star jumps or touching your toes twice. Players take turns to roll, count and move that many squares. If they land on a challenge, they do it, counting aloud. To keep the focus off winning, have players who finish first cheer on the rest. For a harder game, number the squares and add up your landings.
6. Dots and jumps
You need: a number line on the floor and cards with one to ten dots.
Hold up a dot card. Your child counts the dots and jumps to the matching number. Speed up as they get comfortable. For an extra challenge, show two cards at once and jump to the total. Cards that show a quantity at a glance also support seeing small amounts without counting.
Finish well
Notice effort, not speed: “You counted every one.” If a number feels tricky, return to a smaller one.
