Now, believe it or not, even in sunny Florida, there are days when my little man glances out and goes, “Nope, not today!” But a day indoors doesn’t mean eyes glued to the TV.
Oh no, mama’s got a plan! Teaching math for preschoolers has never been easy for me, but then I found a bunch of educational and entertaining activities that I want to share with you!
For days like that have cooler weather (and for all my fellow parents facing the chill), I’ve curated a heartwarming list of 15 winter math activities perfect for preschoolers. Because indoor days can be magical too!
Make The Most Of Winter With Preschooler Math Activities!
Who doesn’t love winter? The holidays, the snow, and the calming peace during a cold winter night by the fireplace.
But let’s be real, with frosty windows and chilly winds, our usual park adventures and outdoor frolics get a bit limited.
It’s the perfect time to spark that warm curiosity in our kiddos with the best math activities for preschoolers, and winter offers a great time to dive into math concepts with your little ones.
Now, school’s out, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop.
I’ve found that keeping their little minds buzzing with math wonder can be both entertaining and enriching.
Most of the activities we’ll dive into are perfect for indoor snuggles, but for those daring days, I’ve noted a few frosty outdoor gems. Let’s make winter a season of fun-filled learning!
How I Chose These Winter Math Activities
Oh, the winter wonderland magic, right?
I have lots of great STEAM math activities for kids over on our other page, but but amidst snowflakes and hot cocoa, I also wanted to sprinkle in some math fun for our tiny humans.
So, I put on my detective hat and delved deep into the most popular kiddo activities websites. I was on the hunt: winter math activities that were not just age-appropriate for our preschoolers but also mom and dad friendly.
Activities that promised at least 20 minutes of engaged learning and, let’s be real, were hassle-free to set up. Because, parent life is busy, but it’s also all about making memories and learning fun!
15 Great Winter Math Activities For Preschoolers
1. Gingerman Counting Bag
Dive into the festive spirit with the adorable “Gingerman Counting Bag.” This delightful activity is as heartwarming as the holiday season itself. Your little ones will gleefully decorate gingery felt men using vibrant buttons, while unknowingly mastering their counting skills.
Not only is this an absolute charm for those tiny fingers, but it’s also a brilliant way to introduce math in the coziest and most magical manner possible. Perfect for those winter days when a blend of play and learning is just what Santa ordered. If you like this activity, I think you will like the other counting math activities for preschoolers that I put together!
- Materials: Felt gingerbread man cutouts, colorful buttons, small bag for storage.
- Duration: 15-30 minutes per session.
- Ideal Age: 2 to 5 years old.
- Math Discipline: Counting and Number Recognition.
- Math Skills: Enhances hand-eye coordination while building foundational numeracy, offering a tactile approach to understanding quantities and numbers.
2. Counting Snowballs Game
The frosty season is no reason for our kiddos to miss out on some learning fun! The “Counting Snowballs Game” is an adorable winter-themed math activity that can warm up even the coldest of days.
Your little ones will gleefully collect soft, fluffy “snowballs” (spoiler alert: they’re cotton balls!) and use them to bolster their counting prowess to make this number math activity for preschoolers a favorite for your little ones. It’s the perfect blend of sensory play with essential early math skills, all bundled up in a snowy adventure your child will adore.
- Materials: Cotton balls, cups or containers, number labels.
- Duration: 15-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 2 to 5 years old.
- Math Discipline: Counting and Number Recognition.
- Math Skills: This game enhances children’s foundational counting abilities and introduces them to numeral identification in a tactile, hands-on manner.
3. CoolToys Monkey Balance Cool Math Game
The CoolToys Monkey Balance game is not just another cute toy; it’s a delightful fusion of fun and learning. As the temperatures drop this winter, this game effortlessly turns mathematics into a playful adventure, where kids use miniature monkeys and numbered weights to achieve balance.
It’s like giving your kiddo a loving math hug, ensuring they grasp foundational math concepts amidst giggles and monkey mischief. Truly a gem for every heart and every home that values both joy and education.
- Materials: Monkey scale, miniature monkey weights, numbered weights.
- Duration: 15-25 minutes per round.
- Ideal Age: 3 to 7 years old.
- Math Discipline: Basic Arithmetic and Balance Concepts.
- Math Skills: Boosts understanding of basic addition, subtraction, and the concept of equilibrium, nurturing foundational arithmetic competencies.
4. Counting & Color Recognition Game
Here’s a bright, bubbly, and hands-on activity to light up your little one’s eyes: the Counting & Color Recognition Game. With this game, you’re not just teaching numbers and colors – you’re creating moments.
Imagine those tiny hands sorting vibrant bears by hue, and then counting them with bubbling enthusiasm. It’s more than a learning journey; it’s a sprinkle of magic in their everyday play.
And the best part?
You’ll be right there, cheering them on, as they gleefully discover, count, and celebrate their achievements.
- Materials: Colored counting bears and matching colored cups.
- Duration: 15-25 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 2 to 4 years old.
- Math Discipline: Number sense and classification.
- Math Skills: This game nurtures early number recognition, counting accuracy, and color differentiation, laying a solid foundation for future math adventures.
5. Winter Counting Sensory Bin
Ready to dive into a winter wonderland right in the comfort of your home? The “Winter Counting Sensory Bin” offers the perfect blend of sensory exploration and early math development.
It’s all about experiencing the tactile joys of winter-themed items, while subtly weaving in those essential counting skills. Ideal for our little learners, this activity is not just educational—it’s a hands-on, heartwarming way to embrace the winter magic.
So, let’s create some cherished chilly-time memories, one count at a time!
- Materials: Sensory bin, winter-themed items (like cotton balls, snowflakes, pine cones), numeral cards.
- Duration: 20-30 minutes of interactive play.
- Ideal Age: 2 to 5 years old.
- Math Discipline: Early arithmetic and number recognition.
- Math Skills: Cultivates foundational counting abilities, numeral identification, and one-to-one correspondence in a tactile and engaging setting.
6. Puff Snow Paint
Embrace winter’s charm without the chill! The Puff Snow Paint activity is a delightful, hands-on way to craft snow scenes indoors.
Blending simple ingredients creates a snowy texture, offering kids an authentic yet warm snow painting experience. As they shape snowy landscapes or shimmering snowflakes, little artists foster creativity while diving into foundational math concepts.
For parents seeking interactive playtime that keeps tiny hands busy and curious minds engaged, this activity is a snowy dream come true!
- Materials: Shaving cream, white glue, blue and silver glitter, cardstock paper.
- Duration: About 15-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 3 to 8 years old.
- Math Discipline: Measurement and proportions.
- Math Skills: Enhances understanding of ratios, volume, and spatial awareness through mixing and applying the textured paint.
7. MindWare Qwirkle Board Game
Ready to add a splash of color and logic to family game night? Dive into the MindWare Qwirkle Board Game! In this vibrant game, matching colors and shapes is the name of the game, but strategy is the key.
This gem brings families closer, challenging both the little ones and the grown-ups, ensuring everyone is thinking, laughing, and connecting. It’s more than a game; it’s memory-making sprinkled with educational goodness.
- Materials: Qwirkle tiles, game board, and tile bag.
- Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Ideal Age: 6 years old and up.
- Math Discipline: Geometry and Pattern Recognition.
- Math Skills: Enhances spatial reasoning, strategical thinking, and pattern spotting, reinforcing a deeper understanding of geometric shapes and sequences.
8. Hot Chocolate Math
Winter’s chilly embrace doesn’t mean indoor activities have to be bland. Enter “Hot Chocolate Math” – a sweet, cocoa-inspired math game.
It’s all about marshmallows, counting, and cozy learning moments. Imagine your little ones’ eyes lighting up as they “sip” on math problems, diving deep into numbers with every marshmallowy “mug”. You could also check out my favorite fall math activities for kids to get ideas on how to help your little learners get into the season as the weather begins to cool.
Who knew math could be so heartwarming? Snuggle up with this delightful activity and make winter learning an enchanting experience.
- Materials: Marshmallows, cups/mugs, number cards.
- Duration: 15-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 4 to 7 years old.
- Math Discipline: Arithmetic and basic counting.
- Math Skills: This activity nurtures foundational number recognition, counting proficiency, and basic arithmetic in a fun, thematic manner.
9. Snowflake Angel
Embrace the winter magic and the gentle allure of ballet with the “Snowflake Angel” craft! Inspired by delicate ballerinas and the unique intricacy of snowflakes, this activity is perfect for those cozy indoor days.
By merging the beauty of dance with the art of paper crafting, your kiddos can create a whimsical decor piece that’s bound to brighten up any space.
As your child’s little fingers move and create, they’re not just crafting. They’re making memories and subtly brushing up on some invaluable math skills!
- Materials: Paper (preferably lightweight cardstock), scissors, and printable Snowflake Angel templates.
- Duration: 20-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 5 to 10 years old.
- Math Discipline: Geometry.
- Math Skills Focus: Enhances understanding of symmetry, pattern recognition, and spatial reasoning while fostering fine motor skills and precision.
10. Olaf Bowling
Imagine an afternoon filled with giggles, snowmen, and bowling in your living room! “Olaf Bowling” is a heartwarming and educational game inspired by everyone’s favorite snowman from ‘Frozen’.
Using adorable Olaf pins and a snowball, little ones can learn basic math concepts while having a blast. It’s the perfect blend of fun and learning, ensuring that your child’s indoor playtime is both entertaining and enriching.
Every toppled Olaf is a step closer to mastering early math skills. Ready, set, bowl!
- Materials: Printable Olaf pins, a soft ball or “snowball”.
- Duration: 15-30 minutes per game.
- Ideal Age: 3 to 7 years old.
- Math Discipline: Basic Arithmetic.
- Math Skills: Enhances counting and subtraction skills by tracking pins knocked down and those remaining upright.
11. Learning Resources Penguins
These adorable, color-coded penguins are more than just cute; they’re a powerhouse for foundational math skills.
Picture your little ones, totally engrossed, pairing and sorting these icy friends while naturally mastering early math concepts.
Not only will their brains get a workout, but their hearts will also be full with penguin-filled fun. A game-changer for afternoon playtimes, ensuring learning meets laughter!
- Materials: Set of color-coded Learning Resources Penguins.
- Duration: Varies, but typically 15-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 3 to 7 years old.
- Math Discipline: Early foundational mathematics.
- Math Skills: Boosts recognition of colors, patterns, and numbers, while also nurturing sorting, matching, and counting abilities in young learners.
12. Build A Snowman Bracelet
If you’re in the mood for cozy winter moments and twinkling eyes, the “Build A Snowman Bracelet” activity is just the thing.
Perfect for those chilly days when you want to bring a sprinkle of snow indoors, this adorable craft combines the joys of jewelry-making with a whimsical wintry touch.
Your kiddos get to create and wear their own snowman, all while engaging in hands-on math fun. It’s a heartwarming way to keep tiny hands busy and make memories together.
- Materials: White, black, and orange beads, string or stretch cord.
- Duration: 20-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 3 to 8 years old.
- Math Discipline: Pattern recognition and sequencing.
- Math Skills: Boosts counting, sequencing abilities, and fine motor skills while fostering an understanding of patterns in a playful context.
13. Let’s Go Ice Picking!
“Let’s Go Ice Picking!” offers our little explorers an icy cool adventure right at home. This playful activity, perfect for the enthusiastic hands of preschoolers, blends the magic of sparkling ice with the challenge of fine motor skill development.
As they chip away at frozen treasures, their tiny fingers work diligently, navigating, and refining. It’s a fantastic sensory playdate for your kiddo, marrying the whimsy of ice discovery with genuine developmental benefits. And bonus: it’s an indoor winter wonderland minus the winter chills!
- Materials: Ice cube trays, small plastic toys or treasures, water, salt shakers filled with salt, pipettes, and warm water.
- Duration: 20-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 3 to 5 years old.
- Math Discipline: Measurement and Data.
- Math Skills: Through observing melting rates and estimating quantities, children develop foundational concepts of measurement, comparisons, and data observation in a tactile environment.
14. Winter Counting Printables
Dive into the magic of winter with the delightful “Winter Counting Printables”. Designed with little learners in mind, this adorable printable activity transforms the frosty charm of the season into a heartwarming educational adventure.
As the snowflakes dance outside, let your kiddos practice counting with these ten-frame cards that sparkle with winter imagery. It’s a cozy, interactive way to infuse a touch of wintry wonder into math lessons.
A perfect blend of learning and seasonal joy for those cuddly indoor days!
- Materials: Printable ten-frame cards, counters (like buttons or pom poms).
- Duration: 15-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: Preschoolers, ages 3 to 5.
- Math Discipline: Number sense and counting within ten frames.
- Math Skills Focus: Boosts early numeracy skills by helping children visualize, recognize, and count quantities using ten-frame representations.
15. Snowman Matching Game
Chilly days call for cozy indoor fun, and the Snowman Matching Game is just the ticket! With its adorable snowman designs, this printable game inspires little learners to match numbers with the correct amount of snowman buttons.
It’s not just about numbers; it’s about connecting, laughing, and lighting up those young eyes with the joy of discovery. And isn’t that what learning should be? An unforgettable adventure sprinkled with a little snowman magic!
- Materials: Snowman Number Match Printable, scissors, and laminate (optional for durability).
- Duration: 15-30 minutes.
- Ideal Age: 2 to 5 years old.
- Math Discipline: Counting and Number Recognition.
- Math Skills: Cultivates foundational counting skills, number recognition, and one-to-one correspondence in an engaging and interactive manner.
Make The Most Of Winter With These Math Activities
Wrapping up, winter’s chill can’t dim our preschoolers’ shine! With these math activities, let’s turn indoor days into delightful learning adventures.
Here’s to warm hearts, keen minds, and winter magic right in our living rooms.
Stay cozy and keep that learning spark alive!
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