Counting game for toddlers: Build a Lake

Counting game for toddlers, learn to count, learning math through play, learn counting preschool.

After Learning Alphabet & spellings through play, we have now started focusing on learning counting and basic math through play. This game is called “Build a lake” and is quite a simple counting game for toddlers. You can later make a few changes in the game, to adapt it for learning addition and subtraction.

What you Need:

1. Dice
2. Assorted water toy animals (fishes, turtles, crabs, frogs, polar bear, penguins; any animals that live in or near water)
3. Water scene play mat/ blanket (or any blue sheet or table cloth)

Play Mats/ Blankets that you may use for "Build A Lake" Counting game for toddlers:

What I am using as a play mat is an Antarctica scene baby blanket that was given as a gift while travelling through Emirates Airlines. I couldn’t find anything similar anywhere, but I will update it here, if and whenever i find something similar.

These are the two best options that I found on Amazon. Please have a look.

Preparation for: "Build a Lake" Counting game for toddlers:

First, search through the toy chest, and look for all the water related toys. Collect them in a small basket.

Next, make the little ones understand the dice. Let them count the circles on each face and tell them what it means. Try to use large dice, so that the kids can play the game without any difficulty. Next teach them to roll the dice and count.
(It took my 2 and a half old daughter roughly 5 minutes to master the dice. rolling and counting. So it shouldn’t be too difficult).

How to Play "Build a Lake" Counting game for toddlers:

Ask the kids to roll the dice, and pick that many water animals from the basket and place them on the mat.

Eventually, all the animals will be on the mat. Ask them to count all the animals after every turn.

Once all the animals are on the mat, ask them to roll the dice again. But, this time remove the designated number of animals from the play mat. this will help them understand the concept of subtraction.

Learning addition and subtraction through Play:

Once you think that your toddler or preschooler has mastered the art of counting, you may now move towards basic addition and subtraction.

This time, take two dice (preferably different colors). Lets say Yellow is for addition and Blue is for subtraction.

If you roll a yellow dice, you have to add that many animals to the lake.

Similarly, if you roll a Blue dice, you have to subtract that many animals from the lake.

Make sure there are always 6 or more animals in the lake before you ask them to roll a Blue dice. This way, they wouldn’t have to deal with negative numbers unnecessarily.

More Adaptations of "Build a lake" Counting game for toddlers:

It obviously doesn’t necessarily have to be “Build a Lake”. You can try “Build a Jungle” with a Forest themed activity mat, where you can use all the wild animals, or even those “Lion King ooshies” that were all any child could talk about a few months back.

Or You can try “Build a Garage” and use Cars instead of animals. The basic concept of the game remains same!

This one, would look really adorable in a kid’s room and is also perfect for the “Build a garage” version of our game.

You can try different ideas like: “Build a Zoo”, or “Build a Park” with real or fake flowers or “Build a town” with building blocks or Build a ANYTHING! Sky is the limit!

Talking about Sky is the limit, you could even try “Build a Sky” where all birds, planes and helicopters could be used!!

Okay, you get the idea!!!
And I need to shut up!!
Happy Learning!!