Easy Bean Bag Number Toss on the Stairs for Preschoolers

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When you combine learning and play, your hands-on activity is naturally fun! Try this bean bag number toss to help your preschooler learn counting skills.

I am all for little ones learning on the move.

Running, jumping, walking, and climbing. All those things my little ones do all day long are perfect chances for me to add in a little learning.

Like number learning on the stairs!

Easy Bean Bag Number Toss on the Stairs for Preschoolers

Benjamin is just on the brink of learning his numbers. He can count quite well and he is beginning to recognize some of his numbers.

But like many little ones, he has one number he skips when he is counting. Right now, he’s missing number 5.

He will be counting up a storm: 1, 2, 3, 4 … 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. And he’ll keep right on going without realizing he missed 5!

So I thought I would play a little game with him to focus on that number 5.

I chose to work on numbers, but you can mix up this activity to work on letters, colors, shapes, and tons of other simple learning topics.

This bean bag number toss has all the makings of a perfect preschool activity!

It’s simple to set up, easy to play, lots of moving, and learning that can be easily adjusted to be ideal for each little one.

For this activity, you’ll need:

• Bean bags
• Paper and tape (or big Post-It Notes)
• Markers or crayons

First, I wrote the numbers 1 through 5 on small squares of paper. I also had dots on each paper to match the written number.

Then, I taped them on the stairs.

For beginning readers, you could also add in the spelled-out number words.

Once the numbers were on the stairs, I handed Benjamin his bean bags and told him to toss the bags to hit the numbers.

At first he was just tossing the bean bags and getting the hang of things.

Then I added a challenging twist. I called out a number and he would try to hit that stair with the beanbag.

Eventually, he was calling numbers for himself and trying to hit his own targets.

He played this number learning game for a very long time!

Every time he walked up the stairs to collect the beanbags we would count the steps: one, two, three, four, five.

He still stumbled a few times, saying 6 instead of 5, but by the end he was correcting himself. I bet after playing this game a few more times, Benjamin will get the hang of it!

Leaving these numbers on the stairs is a great way to practice counting each day too.

Mix Addition into Your Bean Bag Number Toss

Once Sam was home, we played again. But I increased the challenge for my older child.

I would call out a number – like 5 – and he would have to throw 2 bean bags to total that number.

So when I called 5, he threw one beanbag and hit the number 3. He did a quick count and then took aim for the number 2.

It was a great way for him to practice his simple addition skills!

There’s oodles of simple learning with this game.

More Bean Bag Toss Ideas

You could do this same activity with double facts, multiplication, sight words, letters, anything!

It’s amazing how many times we actually go up and down the stairs in a day. It means that there’s tons of chances to practice your target skill.

We sure like to keep things simple, and I must say it just doesn’t get much simpler than this bean bag number toss.

What are you favorite simple and active learning activities? Post your ideas in the comments!

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