Valentine’s Day Counting Mats

I’m looking forward to February because that means we’re one month closer to spring, this snow is killing me. I created these adorable Valentine’s Day counting mats for my preschooler but these math printables would be fun for a toddler as well. If they need help counting to ten, then these are for you.

>> See more Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids

If you’re looking for a fun Valentine’s Day learning activity, you’re going to love how simple and easy this is. It’s great for preschool learning and a simple way to build up their confidence and learn how to count as well.

I love that it has numbers, pictures, and dots to show them how they can see and process numbers.

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How to use Ten Frames

You can use math manipulatives like blocks or teddy bear counters or even food like M&Ms or raisins for your math lessons. Young kids can use them to count up to ten, but you can also do math questions like more or less.

If there are two pom poms on the frame, you can ask how much is three more? Or how much is one less?

They can also make patterns with their pom poms as they count them out.

Recommended Math Manipulatives

Math counters can help kids see them work out math problems when they start to run out of fingers. They’re also great for visualizing math problems, never teach math without them.

edxeducation Math Cubes – Set of 100 – Linking Cubes For Early Math – Connecting Manipulative For Preschoolers Aged 3+ and Elementary Aged KidsNEOROD 121 PCS Base Ten Blocks for Math Manipulatives Plastic Differentiated Math Counters Class Set, Math Cubes, Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd 3rd Gradeedxeducation Counting Bears with Matching Bowls – Early Math Manipulatives – 68pc Set – 60 Bear Counters, 6 Bowls & 2 Game Spinners – Home LearningLearning Resources Transparent Color Counting Chips, Set of 250 Assorted Colored Chips, Ages 5+Melissa & Doug Abacus Developmental Toy Motor Skills 3+ Gift for Boy or Girledxeducation Plastic Pattern Blocks – Set of 250 – Early Geometry Skills – Math Manipulative for Shape Recognition, Symmetry, Patterning and Fractions – Ages 4+

 

Valentine’s Day Counting Mats

My daughter loves to use her bingo dabber or she prefers to place pom poms on the squares and color the circles on the numbers with the dot markers.

I think it’s fun as well so I keep a stock of them in the house. You never know when the ink is going to run out and you need a backup! (and we can use them for a random game of family bingo, too!)

You could also use counters, M&Ms, anything really. My kids love using food in math because if they get the answer right, they get to eat their math manipulative.

M&M’s seem to disappear quickly when we use them but that’s all part of the fun.

Use these counting mats for younger kids to practice number recognition and have them add math manipulatives as they count. You can also use ten frames for addition and subtraction questions up to ten.

Ask them how much is 2 more than 5 or 5 less than 9. Then they can make the number and add or subtract the pom-poms as needed to find the answer.

Want more Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids, who said you could only celebrate love for one day?

Recommended Valentine’s Day Books for Kids

Add these Valentine’s Day books to your reading list to extend this activity and bring Valentine’s spirit to your kids. You can celebrate love and joy more than just one day of the year.

You can also write your own Valentine’s Day cards, make a Valentine’s Day treasure dig sensory bin, or create a Popsicle Stick Heart Craft for your favorite person.

There are many fun ways to make more Valentine’s Day fun combined with learning, too.

Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day Is CoolDay It Rained HeartsGroggle’s Monster ValentineLove Is: (Illustrated Story Book about Caring for Others, Book About Love for Parents and Children, Rhyming Picture Book)Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar (The World of Eric Carle)Love Monster

 

Make counting fun with these ten frames, math doesn’t have to be a bore, have fun with it.

The more that you try to make learning fun, the more that the kids are going to think that it is. This is what I tell parents that are struggling with teaching their kids at home. Make the lessons fun and something that they’re going to like and it’s not going to feel like such a bore or a chore.

If your kids love STEM activities, you must try these Valentine STEM Activities packed with exciting science experiments, slime recipes, engineering a structure challenge, and more!

Download the Valentine’s Day Counting Mats below

More Valentine’s Day Printables

If you’re looking for even more great learning activities for Valentine’s Day, make certain to check out these other fun learning printables! These are great for early learning and simple activities as well.

Valentine’s Day Counting Cards and Puzzles

Valentine’s Day Kindergarten Math Worksheets

One More or Less Heart Clip Cards

Valentine’s Day Bingo Cards

More Valentine’s Day Activities

Valentine’s Day Math Activities

Valentine’s day is a perfect time to practice your child’s math skills. Find out what fun and engaging Valentine’s day math activities are perfect for their math practice.

Valentine STEM Activities for Kindergarten

Valentines Pack by 3 Dinosaurs