2 -around and back on a railroad track
two-two-two.

3 -around a tree, around a tree
makes a very pretty three.

4 -down and down and over more,
that's the way we make a four.

5 -big ol' five goes down and around
put a flag on the top and see what you've found.

6 -down to a loop,
a six rolls a hoop.

7 -across the sky and down from heaven,
that's the way to make a seven.

8 -we make an "S" but do not wait,
we climb back up and there's an eight.

9 -a loop at the top and then there's a line,
makes a very handsome nine.

10 -it's easy to make a 1 and an 0,
ten is all your fingers you know!

You can help to enhance your child's awareness and recognition of numbers by observing and enriching your child's play. Seize the "teachable moments" as they happen in everyday life.

Count out loud when playing with your child.
Slow down enough to allow your toddler to enjoy counting �stairs, fenceposts, slices of banana, or whatever catches her fancy.If you are stacking blocks, count them as you stack. If you are eating raisins, count them as you put them in your mouth. Have a tea party with stuffed animals and count your "guests". Point out when the number of objects changes (e.g. "Look! Another bird. Now there are two!")

Play number games in the bathtub.
Give your child assorted sizes of plastic pails or containers and count them as you nestle one inside the other. Count the number of water scoops it takes to fill each one up. Count fingers and toes as you wash them.

Buy toys that have numbers on them.
There are many toys that have numbers on them. Puzzles, toy phones, books, pretend money - the list is endless. You can even purchase an educational videotape about numbers for your child to watch.

Praise your child often for trying to count or recall numbers. Remember that your child is learning a new skill. Don't be critical of mistakes. If your child recognizes a number but names it wrong, correct your child by saying something like, "Yes, I see a five. You are getting very good at numbers."

Ten Fat Peas
Ten fat peas in a pea pod pressed (children hold hands in a fist)
One grew, two grew, so did all the rest. (put thumb and fingers up one by one)
They grew and grew (raise hand in the air very slowly)
And did not stop,
Until one day that pea pod POPPED! (children clap hands together)



Birds
There was one little bird in a little tree,
He was all alone, and he didn't want to be.
So he flew far away, over the sea,
And brought back a friend to live in the tree.

Substitute two, three, etc. for one as you finish the verse.



Here is a Beehive
Here is the beehive, where are the bees?
(clench fist and bring out fingers quickly one by one)
Hidden away were nobody sees
Watch and you will see them come out of their hives,
One, two, three, four, five,
Buzz, buzz, buzz.



Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks went out to play
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack"
And only four little ducks came back

Four little ducks....
And only three little ducks came back

Three little ducks....
And only two little ducks came back

Two little ducks....
And only one little duck came back

One little duck....
And no little ducks came running back

No little ducks went out to play
Over the hills and far away
Papa duck said "QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK"
And all the little ducks came running back!




Counting Apples
Five red apples
Hanging on a tree (five fingers held up)
The juiciest apples you ever did see!
The wind came past
And gave an angry frown (shake head and look angry)
And one little apple came tumbling down.
Four red apples, etc. Continue until no red apples.



Ten Little Fingers
(to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")
One little, two little, three little fingers
Four little, five little, six little fingers
Seven little, eight little, nine little fingers
Ten little fingers on your hands!

To see the full list of songs on this site just click here.

     NUMBER FLASHCARDS     

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