Count frequently used items with your child as he goes through his day. While he's getting dressed, point to each item of clothing and say, "You need two shoes, one shirt and one pair of pants." Walk with him up a flight of stairs, counting each step as you go. Give your child finger foods at snack time, and count as you serve. Each time he eats one, tell him how many he has left. Doing this will help him to understand that number words correlate to quantity.
Write the numbers one through five on a piece of paper, and draw the correlating amount of your child's favorite toys or symbols. For instance, if she sleeps with a stuffed bear, write the number one, and draw one bear underneath. Draw a new set of toys or symbols for each number. For example, draw the number two, and draw two stars below it. Say the numbers with her and allow her to color the pictures you've drawn using finger paint, chalk or crayons Make this an outdoor activity by using chalk to write on the sidewalk or driveway.
Go on a scavenger hunt by hiding numbers around your house and yard. Place cutouts of numbers in places that will be easy for your preschooler to access. Under the table, in the toy box or under the doormat are good places. Draw a map showing where each number is hidden. Repeat this sentence at each turn, "We are looking for number five!" Replace "five" with the number he is searching for. Following the map, lead him to the area of the hidden numbers. When he finds one, congratulate him by saying, "You found the number five!" Continue until he has found each number. Saying the number during the search and after finding it, helps him to put a name to each symbol.