Painted Rock Number Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Painted rock numbers are easy to make and are a great resource for helping toddlers and preschoolers to learn numbers. These rock numbers can be used in many different ways to help children learn to count, recognise and order numbers. Scroll down to see how to make a set of number rocks and find out how they can be used to create fun number activities for toddlers and preschoolers.

Using paint pens to make painted rocks means they can be made in minutes ready to be played with and older children can even make their own! If you have any rocks left after making a set of rock numbers you could try making some painted rock fairy houses or rock fish too! Or check out our other rock painting ideas. 

Toddlers and preschoolers love counting and exploring numbers! Making a set of painted rock numbers is such a fun way to introduce numbers to young children.

For younger children just having the opportunity to see and talk about numbers in their play is the perfect way for them to learn. Older children may prefer more structured activities or they may like to come up with their own games. Scroll down below for lots of ideas of ways to use these rock numbers.

More number activities for toddlers and preschoolers that you might like:

Learn to count ladybird craft 
Magnetic fishing number game
Playdough counting activity
Fingerprint counting activity 

Painted Rock Number Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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Rock Number Supplies

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• Acrylic Paint Pens (I would recommend using acylic paint pens for painting on rocks. They are easy to use and last well. We used a set of standard thickness paint pens, but if you want to add more fine details you may need to purchase a set of fine acrylic pens too)
• Rocks or pebbles
• Sealer Spray

How to make painted rock numbers

Using acrylic paint pens to make rock numbers is so easy! Simply write a number on each rock and then if you would like to add a few dots around the edge as decoration. (You can of course use acrylic paints too, but it can be a little more fiddly)

Using shiny rocks works well as they are smooth ready to be drawn on, but really you could use any pebbles, stones or rocks that you can find to make a set of painted rock numbers. Try to think about the shape of each rock when deciding which one to use for each number. 

Making several sets is a good idea so that toddlers and preschoolers can match up numbers or put them together to make larger numbers. You could also make + - and = signs to use the numbers to make simple sums. 

How to seal painted rock numbers

You will need to varnish painted rocks if you want them to last. I would reccomend using a sealer spray for a quick, even finish.

Painted rock number activities for toddlers and preschoolers

There are many different ways that the rock numbers can be used. Here are  some suggestions of ways that you could use your painted rock numbers with toddlers and preschoolers as well as a few ideas of ways they can be used by older children. 

• Hide the numbers around the garden and go on a number hunt.
• Ask your child to put the numbers in order from 0-9. You could also have some numbers already in order and see if your child can find the missing numbers. 

• Give your toddler or preschooler a number and ask them to find a matching number (or for older children see if they can find the number that is one more or one less)
• Choose a number and find a matching number of items to go with it. This is fun to do out in the garden as it can turn into a bit of a nature hunt. You could also do this indoors with small toys or items from around the house. 

• Use rock number along with other small toys like construction vehicles and let your toddler or preschooler load them up or choose their own way to use them. 
• Playdough and rock numbers are fun to use together. Stack the rock numbers in order with playdough to stick them together or try and copy the shape of the number and make playdough number to match. You could also give your child a number and ask them to make that many cakes etc. 
• Adding rock numbers to a mud kitchen is a great way of introducing numbers into the outdoor environment. Children could make number soup or add number rocks to the top of their mud cakes!
• Add the number rocks to sand for children to bury and search for, they also make great door numbers. (You might also want to make a set of rock fairy houses to use with them.)
• Use the painted rock numbers in a sand writing tray for children to copy the formation of the numbers. 

• Older children could use the numbers to make simple addition sums. You could make addition, subtraction and equal sign rocks when you make your numbers or you could write the signs in chalk and ask your child to fill in the blanks with the painted rock numbers.
• Older children could also put two numbers together to see what 2 digit numbers they can make. You could ask them what will happen if you switch the numbers over e.g 27 turns to 72. What is the largest 2 digit number they can make? What is the smallest? 

Have fun making and playing with your own set of painted rock numbers and please let us know what counting games you play with your painted rocks for toddlers and preschoolers. Have fun!

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