Counting and colors

Counting things out, sorting by color and size, and the early math that hides inside both. 65 ideas

Good for siblings
Burn energy
Beat the Clock Cleanup
3–15 min 2–12 yrs Low mess
Nothing to gather
Good for siblings
Learn something
I Spy
3–20 min 3–10 yrs Low mess
Nothing to gather
Learn something
Color Hunt
5–15 min 20 mo–6 yrs Low mess
Nothing to gather
Good for siblings
Learn something
Find It on Every Page
5–20 min 18 mo–6 yrs Low mess
- a picture book
Burn energy
Balloon Keepy-Uppy
5–20 min 2–10 yrs Low mess
- a balloon
Learn something
Stack And Knock Down
5–20 min 9 mo–2 yrs Low mess
- cups or chunky blocks
Good for siblings
Burn energy
Sock Basketball
5–20 min 2–10 yrs Low mess
- a laundry basket or bucket
- five or six pairs of socks
Good for siblings
Burn energy
Tape Long Jump
5–15 min 2–6 yrs Low mess
- painter's tape
Learn something
Walking Water
5–20 min 4–11 yrs Low mess
- six clear cups
- food coloring
- paper towels or coffee filters
- water
Learn something
Cotton Ball Transfer
10–20 min 2–5 yrs Low mess
- cotton balls
- kitchen tongs
- two bowls
Learn something
Animal Line-Up
10–20 min 18 mo–4 yrs Low mess
- painter's tape
- toy animals or cars
Learn something
Laundry Sorting Race
10–20 min 2–8 yrs Low mess
- a basket of clean laundry
Learn something
Lid and Container Match
10–20 min 12 mo–2 yrs Low mess
- plastic containers with lids
Learn something
Magnet Treasure Hunt
10–25 min 3–9 yrs Low mess
- a magnet
Learn something
Muffin Tin Drop
10–25 min 12 mo–3 yrs Low mess
- a muffin tin or ice tray
- large objects to drop in
Learn something
Muffin Tin Pasta Sort
10–20 min 18 mo–4 yrs Low mess
- a muffin tin
- three pasta shapes, mixed
Learn something
Sticker Line-Up
10–20 min 18 mo–4 yrs Low mess
- dot stickers
- paper
- a marker
Good for siblings
Burn energy
Stuffy Toss
10–25 min 15 mo–6 yrs Low mess
- stuffed animals
- a chair or cushion to land them on
Learn something
Tower Challenge
10–35 min 2–10 yrs Low mess
- blocks or bricks
Good for siblings
Burn energy
Balloon Tennis
10–20 min 3–8 yrs Low mess
- a balloon
- paper plates
- wooden spoons for handles
Learn something
Baster Squeeze
10–20 min 2–5 yrs Some mess
- a turkey baster
- water
- two bowls or cups
Learn something
Big Color Sort
10–30 min 20 mo–5 yrs Some mess
- a pile of small toys
Learn something
Sink or Float
10–30 min 2–8 yrs Some mess
- water
- a big bowl or tub
Burn energy
Sponge Relay
10–30 min 3–10 yrs Some mess
- a sponge
- two buckets
- water
Good for siblings
Learn something
Ten Hidden Things
10–30 min 2–8 yrs Low mess
- ten small toys
Good for siblings
Burn energy
Hallway Hopscotch
10–25 min 3–8 yrs Low mess
- painter's tape
Burn energy
Sticky Web Rescue
10–30 min 2–8 yrs Low mess
- masking tape
- small toys
Learn something
Cereal Necklaces
15–30 min 2–6 yrs Low mess
- loop cereal
- string or pipe cleaners
Learn something
Kitchen Pouring Station
15–30 min 18 mo–4 yrs Some mess
- cups and a measuring cup with a spout
- a tray with a rim
- water or dry rice
Learn something
Sticky Window Collage
15–40 min 18 mo–6 yrs Low mess
- tape
Learn something
Feed the Monster
10–20 min 15 mo–4 yrs Low mess
- a cardboard box
- a marker to draw the face
- monster food: pom-poms, rolled socks or soft balls
Learn something
Fizzy Drips
15–30 min 2–7 yrs Some mess
- baking soda
- white vinegar
- food coloring
- droppers or a teaspoon
Learn something
Foam Paint
15–35 min 3–8 yrs Messy
- shaving cream
- food coloring or paint
- a bath or a big tray
Learn something
Ramp Races
15–40 min 2–9 yrs Low mess
- toy cars or balls
- something to make a ramp
Learn something
Ice Paint
15–35 min 2–8 yrs Messy
- an ice cube tray
- paint or food coloring
- water
- thick paper
$Balance And Weigh: the setup, laid out$
Learn something
Balance And Weigh
20–40 min 4–10 yrs Low mess
- kitchen scales, or a coat hanger and two cups
- small things to weigh
Learn something
Density Rainbow
20–35 min 5–12 yrs Some mess
- a tall clear glass
- sugar
- water
- food coloring
Learn something
Pasta Jewelry
20–45 min 3–8 yrs Some mess
- tube pasta
- string or pipe cleaners
Learn something
Rainbow Rice
20–45 min 2–6 yrs Some mess
- uncooked white rice
- food coloring
- white vinegar
- zip-top bags
Learn something
Salt Dough Shapes
25–60 min 2–11 yrs Some mess
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- water
- a mixing bowl
Learn something
Mud Kitchen
30–90 min 2–10 yrs Messy
- old pans and bowls
- water
- spoons and scoops
Learn something
Cardboard Arcade
45–120 min 5–12 yrs Some mess
- cardboard boxes
- tape
Good for siblings
Learn something
How Many Tiles Tall
10–25 min 3–7 yrs Low mess
- magnetic tilesto buy
Good for siblings
Learn something
Copy My Build
10–30 min 2–9 yrs Low mess
- building bricksto buy
Good for siblings
Learn something
Snake Rolling Contest
10–25 min 2–6 yrs Some mess
- play doughto buy
Good for siblings
Learn something
All Aboard Passengers
10–25 min 2–6 yrs Low mess
- a train set with trackto buy
- small people or animal figuresto buy
Learn something
Brick Stamping
10–30 min 2–6 yrs Some mess
- building bricksto buy
- play doughto buy
Good for siblings
Learn something
Buried Treasure Dig
10–30 min 3–7 yrs Some mess
- kinetic sandto buy
- small treasures: buttons, coins or figures
Learn something
Pom-Pom Push
10–20 min 12 mo–3 yrs Low mess
- a container with a lid
- pom-pomsto buy
Learn something
Pom-Pom Scoop
10–25 min 18 mo–4 yrs Some mess
- large pom-pomsto buy
- water
- a tub or big bowl
- a strainer, cups or a slotted spoon
Good for siblings
Learn something
Train Cargo Delivery
10–30 min 2–6 yrs Low mess
- a train set with trackto buy
- cargo: pom-poms, small blocks or buttons
Good for siblings
Learn something
Window Light Tiles
10–30 min 3–8 yrs Low mess
- magnetic tilesto buy
- painter's tape
Good for siblings
Learn something
Color Garages
10–20 min 2–4 yrs Low mess
- toy carsto buy
- three or four small boxes
Learn something
Marble Painting
10–25 min 3–9 yrs Messy
- a box or rimmed tray
- washable paintto buy
- paper
- a marble or small ball
Good for siblings
Learn something
Numbered Parking Lot
10–25 min 2–6 yrs Low mess
- toy carsto buy
- a big sheet of paper or flattened box
- a marker
Learn something
Pom-Pom Drop
10–25 min 15 mo–3 yrs Low mess
- cardboard tubes
- painter's tape
- pom-pomsto buy
Good for siblings
Burn energy
Sticky Target
10–20 min 18 mo–6 yrs Low mess
- clear contact paperto buy
- painter's tape
- scrap paper to scrunch into balls
Good for siblings
Learn something
Magnetic Tile Garage
15–45 min 3–7 yrs Low mess
- magnetic tilesto buy
- toy carsto buy
Learn something
Block Bridge for the Train
15–40 min 3–8 yrs Low mess
- a train set with trackto buy
- wooden blocksto buy
Good for siblings
Learn something
Play Dough Cookie Bakery
15–45 min 2–6 yrs Some mess
- play doughto buy
- cookie cutters
Good for siblings
Learn something
Stuffed Animal Picnic
15–40 min 18 mo–5 yrs Low mess
- play food or a tea setto buy
- stuffed animals
Good for siblings
Learn something
Play Dough Birthday Cakes
15–40 min 2–6 yrs Some mess
- play doughto buy
- drinking straws cut short for candles
Burn energy
Cotton Ball Splat Painting
15–30 min 2–6 yrs Messy
- washable paintto buy
- cotton balls
- a big sheet of paper
Learn something
Paint the Toys
15–30 min 18 mo–5 yrs Messy
- washable paintto buy
- plastic toys that can be washedto buy
- a tub or tray
Good for siblings
Learn something
Pretend Pizza Shop
15–40 min 2–7 yrs Low mess
- play food for toppingsto buy
- paper plates for pizza crusts

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