Balloon Pop is a game that helps children count and recognize numbers. Number twenty inflated balloons one through twenty. Have the children put the balloons in numeric order or have them select a balloon at random and call out the number that appears on it. Once you have completed the game or games, you can have the children take turns popping the balloons (safely) in numeric order.
This game also helps children to count and recognize numbers. Write the numbers one through twenty on the bottom of cupcake liners. Have the children count out that number of items, such as coins or beans, and put them in the corresponding liner.
To reinforce the order of numbers, number index cards one through twenty. Have the children take turns selecting a card at random and count out that number in a pile of beans. Align the cards and beans in numerical order on a table.
For this game, put a number of items in a jar, such as candy or marbles. You can put as many or as few as you like, depending on the ability of the students. Have the children write down their guess on a piece of paper with their name on it. Once you have collected all of the guesses, empty the jar and count the contents. The student who guesses closest to the actual number wins a prize.
Choose one player, or student, to start the game. Have them write down a number between one and ten, or one and twenty, or other scale depending on the abilities of the children. The next player will guess a number and the first player will tell him higher or lower. The third player will then guess a number and the first will again say "higher" or "lower." Play continues around the room until the right answer is guessed. The student after the correct guesser selects another number and the play starts again.
There are a number of websites available to help children learn to count while playing games. ABC.net has a variety of different activities that can help children of any age with counting. Funschool.kaboose.com has counting games as well as other games for different learning aspects.