Today I’m sharing a set of hands-on number worksheets for your preschooler!
(This post contains affiliate links.)
So here’s the deal.
I’m not big on worksheets. I home school my kids for preschool – and while we use a lot of printables, my kids do very few traditional worksheets. I just don’t think they’re necessary.
One reason we don’t do many worksheets is because the fine motor skills required for completing a worksheet just aren’t there for many preschoolers. It’s not a good idea to have young kids do a lot of pencil writing when they should be doing playful fine motor activities to strengthen those little hands.
Another reason is that worksheets aren’t very open-ended. If we’re trying to encourage creativity and thinking, we could be stifling both by handing our child a worksheet.
Finally, preschoolers need to learn with hands-on activities. Typical worksheets just don’t allow for that.
Why the big disclaimer?
Because I’m glad you’re here! And I hope you enjoy these. But I want to encourage you to use these as a supplement to more hands-on, active math activities. Not sure where to start? Be sure to check out my math page, where you’ll find over a hundred playful activities and printables to teach your preschooler!
About the worksheets
After all that I have to say that I actually like these number worksheets because I don’t consider them typical worksheets. In fact, your child needs a pencil for just one small part of the worksheet (of course, he can use a crayon or marker too!).
At the top of the page, your child can trace the featured number. My Three does not have a proper pencil grasp yet, so we haven’t done any handwriting pages. He liked tracing these numbers, just like he enjoys writing a wobbly version of the first two letters of his name.
But once was enough! (If your child is truly ready, check out my Letters of All Sizes number pages, which follow the same pattern.)
Next, your child puts down the correct number of stickers in the empty box.
We love Do-a-Dot markers. Great for fine motor practice, and so satisfying to use. Dot the featured number in the next part of the worksheet.
The next part of the page uses a 10-frame. These are big in early elementary math curricula these days, so it’s great to introduce them early. Plus, by putting the counters on the top left and moving toward the right, your child is getting ready to read!
We used transparent counting chips, which are perfect for the worksheet. You could also use teddy bear counters or another small manipulative.
Finally, the last part of the worksheet asks your child to color or paint the correct number of pictures. My little guy enjoys his crayons, but if your preschooler isn’t into coloring, water color painting is a great alternative.
My Three worked through worksheets 1-5 in one sitting, which surprised me. I kept asking if he wanted to take a break, but he was determined to keep going! After five worksheets we abandoned the pile for a stack of good books. 🙂
Get more freebies!
Remember to check out my Math page for more activities and printables!
© 2015 – 2018, Anna G. All rights reserved.
Marian says
Oh, these number worksheets are wonderful!!! Just what my little nursery 1 children in our Ghanaian creche needed! Thanks and God bless you for sharing.
Anna Geiger says
I’m so glad you can use them, Marian!
Korey says
I can’t wait to use these sheets! My (soon-to-be) four year old and I were working on the letters of all sizes pages yesterday and she loved them! These sheets are such a great resource for me, thank you so much for all that you do!
Anna Geiger says
You’re very welcome, Korey – I hope she enjoys them!
Karly Johnson says
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing -the grandchildren love to “play school” and these are great!
Anna Geiger says
You’re welcome, Karly!
Carlee says
I can’t get the link to open.. would you give me the link again.. thanks!
Carlee says
Fixed my email address.. 🙂
Emma says
I like your version of worksheets – much preferable to the “write *b* 15 times in a row” version!
Anna Geiger says
Yes, I’ve never been crazy about those kinds of worksheets either, Emma!
Cindy says
I would love to print your Number 1-10 wooksheet, however when I try there are several black spots where numbers should be on pages 1-5 Is there a problem with the worksheets or am I doing something wrong?
Anna Geiger says
Hi Cindy,
Did you check the post linked right under the download, where you can try different things to make it work? 99% of the time, one of those solutions works.
https://www.themeasuredmom.com/how-to-download-free-files/
Kate says
Do you have a mac computer? I’ve had this happen for me. I’d also love to print these off, they are JUST what I’m looking for! I also have parts of the pages fogged out by faded squares. None of the printing suggestions addresses it, but maybe someone else will chime in knowing how we can address it.
Anna Geiger says
Kate, did you check to make sure Adobe Acrobat is the default for opening files?
Kate says
Thanks for the tip. I’m trying to figure this computer out…
Jennifer Z says
I have tried numerous times to download this but keep getting an error message. Is there something wrong with the link?
Anna Geiger says
It opens fine for me, Jennifer. Please click on the “having trouble downloading or printing?” box below the download. 99% of the time, you’ll find a solution there!
Amy Tradewell says
This is a great idea! Love that they are exploring numbers in a variety of ways besides just tracing numbers.
Anna Geiger says
Thank you, Amy!
SMR says
Hello! I love these worksheets! Do you have them available for numbers 11-20?
Anna Geiger says
No, and right now I’m not planning to. I don’t think I would have space for all the activities.
Anna Geiger says
I did decide to create worksheets for #11-20… Here you go!
https://www.themeasuredmom.com/free-worksheets-for-numbers-11-20/
SMR says
Thank you so much! I use these in my PreK room and they are great!
Anna Geiger says
So glad to hear it! 🙂
Misty Snoddy says
I can’t even find the option to download these worksheets, there is no link showing to click for download and clicking on the picture as doesn’t work. How do you download them :-/
Anna Geiger says
It says
Get your free worksheets by clicking HERE.
shirley says
Loved these so muchhhh!!! Any chance you have these to number 20? ?
Thanks!
Anna Geiger says
No, but I’ve had enough requests that I will probably work on it soon. So stay tuned 🙂
Shirley says
Yay! Looking forward to it! Thanks so much!
Anna Geiger says
Here you go, Shirley:
https://www.themeasuredmom.com/free-worksheets-for-numbers-11-20/
shirley says
Thank you SO much!!!!
aymeth says
thank you for sharing so helpful with the kids. love it
Anna Geiger says
You’re very welcome!
Aida jaime says
I can’t download, I want it to work with my kids in the school.
Anna Geiger says
Please click on the box that says “having trouble downloading or saving?” 99% of the time, one of those tips works.
Mary Lou Lorenz says
Hi,
You have great activities for little ones. I use some of them with my grand children.
I am an Occupational therapist and I noticed the way your child holds a crayon.
I spent many years working with children in the schools. The way they hold a crayon or pencil greatly affects there writing skills.
you should try to encourage him to hold crayon “correctly” depending on his age. you can encourage better grasp automatically by having him color on a vertical surface or by laying on his tummy on the floor. you can probably find ifor online about what to look for. but it is good to be aware of with little ones
Anna Geiger says
Yes, he definitely did not have the proper pencil grasp when we were doing this activity (as I noted in the post). But I think it’s important not to force these things before kids are ready, as it leads to frustration. More recently (as he’s now almost four) he’s been able to get closer to the correct grasp, with my encouragement. I like the idea of having him color on a vertical surface – thanks for the tip!
Amy says
These are great! Thank you for creating and sharing!
Anna Geiger says
You’re very welcome, Amy!
Kristina Kok says
Your number worksheets are amazing! Thank you so much for making them available to print! I can’t wait to use them with my preschooler in the upcoming months! Thank you!!
Anna Geiger says
I’m so glad you can use them, Kristina!
Rubia says
I real want This file but when I try tô download it says ” impossible to download this file” ?
Anna Geiger says
Did you click where it says “Is the file not downloading?” and try the tips there?
SBentley says
Thank you so much for these!
Anna Geiger says
You’re very welcome!
lini says
It’s good for children, thanks
Patty Law says
I’m a math interventionist that works with kindergarten and first grade. I plan to use these with my kindergarten students. Thanks for sharing!
Anna Geiger says
I’m glad you can use them, Patty!
Diane says
These number worksheets are great. I especially appreciate having the numbers 11-20 as they are more difficult to find.
Thanks so much for sharing them!
Anna Geiger says
You’re very welcome, Diane!
Christina says
“The number of sheets 1-10” super! Thank you very much! I appreciate your ideas!
Anna Geiger says
You’re very welcome, Christina!
Missy says
I teach preschool and you are by far my favorite resource to use!
ROCK ON!
Anna Geiger says
Thank you so much, Missy – what a day brightener! 🙂
Karen Williams says
I cannot find your pages on your link. Everything that I click sends me to another page. Can you please make your download of the worksheets more easy to find on your site.
Karen Williams says
Found it thank you 🙂
Betty says
Thank you Anna. I’m a preschool teacher in Ghana and I use your resources all the time. Decided to leave a comment this once because I really really appreciate what you are doing
Anna G says
You’re very welcome, Betty! Thank you so much for the kind words!
angela says
muy buenas ideas …son geniales
Stefanie De Jesus says
Boys 4 and 5 years, like the worksheet. I will use it just for them to recognize the numbers, like that its a bit more interactive that just writing. One of them doens’t like to write, but loves to count.
Anna G says
I hope this is useful for you, Stefanie!