DIY Pom Pom Counting Cards

Are you looking for a fresh, fun way to sneak some learning into your kiddo’s playtime? Well, you’re in luck! Today, I’m thrilled to share a DIY project that’s as colorful as it is educational: Pom Pom Counting Cards.

What’s the Deal with Pom Pom Counting Cards?

These counting cards are a hands-on way to help your little ones learn numbers and develop fine motor skills.

Plus, they are super easy to make at home with materials you likely have lying around. The idea is simple: each card represents a number, with corresponding hand-drawn pictures and holes to place the soft, fluffy pom poms.

It’s a tactile and visual treat that’s perfect for preschoolers.

Making Your Own Counting Cards

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Sturdy cardboard or thick cardstock
• Colored markers or paint
• A sharp knife or a pair of scissors – a craft knife is ideal.
• Pom poms in various colors

And here’s how to craft them:

1. Cut your cardboard into squares — one for each number you’d like to teach.
2. Draw a picture on each card that matches the number. For instance, on the card for number 1, you might draw a bright sun, for number 2 a friendly cloud, and so on.
3. Color in your pictures with vibrant hues to make them inviting.
4. Layer another piece of card beneath and cut out holes in the top layer where the pom poms will sit.
5. Color in the hole so everything matches.
6. Label each card with the corresponding number.

Voilà! You’ve got yourself a set of delightful counting cards.

Feel free to get creative with the images on the cards. The ones I’ve shared here are just the beginning.

Maybe your number 3 is a trio of turtles, or your 5 is a handful of stars. The sky’s the limit!

You can also continue with bigger numbers, all the way up to 10 and beyond… the choice is yours.

Playing with Pom Pom Counting Cards

Using the cards is just as easy as making them. Scatter the pom poms and have your child place the right amount into the holes on each card.

It’s a simple matching game: one pom pom for the sun, two for the cloud, three for the cute little bugs, and so forth.

You can also include an element of color matching, by asking your preschooler to pick the correct color for the holes in each card, too.

Oh, and before I forget to mention, the table you see in the images, the Ikea Flisat table, is a total game-changer for organizing crafts and activities.

Its clever design allows you to store small Trofast drawers underneath, creating the perfect hideaway for all your bits and bobs.

It’s perfect for tucking away these delightful counting cards alongside a ziplock bag brimming with colorful pom poms — it’s a breeze!

This table is not just a surface for fun; it’s a hub for smart storage, making it super easy to swap out activities and keep the creative play rolling without missing a beat.

Why These DIY Counting Cards are Awesome

Here are some of the main benefits of this activity:

• Number Recognition: Kids get familiar with numbers and start understanding quantity.
• Fine Motor Skills: Picking up those pom poms isn’t just fun; it’s good for developing little fingers.
• Color Recognition: With a rainbow of pom poms and cards, there’s plenty of color sorting to be done.
• Creativity: Drawing and coloring the cards lets kids (and you!) flex those creative muscles.

One of the standout benefits of this playful activity is its role in teaching one-to-one correspondence. That’s the ability to match one object to one other object or number — in this case, one pom pom to one hole.

This skill is crucial for understanding that numbers represent specific quantities.

As your child places each fluffy pom pom into its designated spot, they’re not just playing — they’re making the connection that “one” corresponds to a single item, “two” to a pair, and so on.

This hands-on approach solidifies their counting skills and lays the groundwork for more advanced math concepts down the line. Plus, it’s a hoot!

This activity is spot-on for children aged 2-5. It’s a time when they’re soaking up new concepts like little sponges, and these cards turn learning into play.

Trust me, they’ll be counting up a storm before you know it, and what’s more important they will have that one to one correspondence and understanding of what these numbers really mean rather than just reciting “one, two, three…”

There you have it, a DIY activity that’s as educational as it is enjoyable. Not only will you have a blast making these Pom Pom Counting Cards with your little ones, but you’ll also love watching them learn. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

So go ahead, give it a whirl and let the counting fun begin!

Happy crafting and learning!

More Math and Number Activities for Kids

Ready to mix up the math menu for your little learners? Beyond our colorful counting cards, there’s a whole array of engaging activities waiting to turn numbers into a playground of fun.

From constructing number lines with beloved building blocks to sorting through seasons with sticky foam art, each of these resources is designed to make math a hands-on, exciting adventure.

Check them out and watch your child’s number knowledge grow by leaps and bounds!

• LEGO Duplo Number Line for Addition and Subtraction
• Free Printable Blank Number line Worksheets
• Free Printable Cactus Color by Number Pages (Easy)
• I Can Make Numbers Playdough Mats (Free Printable)
• Measuring Vehicles Distances, STEM activity inspired by Blaze and the Monster Machines
• Free printable math graph paper PDF
• Seasons Weather Sorting Activity with Foam Stickers

I Can Make Numbers Playdough Mats (Free Printable)

Did this easy math activity bring some joy and learning to your day? If so, we’d be over the moon if you shared the fun with others!

Spread the love for numbers by posting it on social media, pinning to your Pinterest boards, or passing it along to fellow parents and educators.

Your shares and pins help us bring more creative and educational content to families just like yours. Let’s make the joy of learning contagious!