Toddlers are capable of understanding the concepts of more, less, bigger and smaller, which are all primitive elements of mathematics. The goal of this activity is for children to explore the concept of size. Gather bean bags of various sizes and ask the children to place them in size order. Draw a collection of squares, in size order from smallest to largest, on the pavement or a piece of poster board. Have the children toss the bean bags on squares of corresponding sizes. For a variation, work from largest to smallest.
Around the age of 2, toddlers become capable of learning to count objects in small quantities. A fun way to improve this math skill is to count to the rhythm of a song or a rhyme. Choose a song that incorporates numbers or counting. Teach the children to toss the bean bags to the tune of the music. A song with a slower pace will work best for this activity.
By the age of 2, most toddlers are able to identify several shapes. This activity teaches toddlers to match the shape of the bean bag with its corresponding shape on the game board. Gather bean bags of various shapes such as circles, triangles, squares and stars. Draw a picture of each shape on the pavement or a piece of poster board. Have the children toss the bean bags on their matching shapes. For a variation, match different sizes of the same shape with one another.
This activity is designed to help toddlers learn to recognize patterns. Gather bean bags of different shapes, colors and sizes. Show the children how to create an AB pattern, which alternates two types of items. Ask the children to toss the bean bags in order of the AB pattern they have created. Pattern variations can include red, blue, red, blue, or big, small, big, small, or circle, star, circle, star. Start off with patterns involving two elements.
This activity is designed to teach the concept of quantity. Place two clear containers on the ground, one smaller than the other. Place the children several feet away from the containers and have them toss their bean bags into the containers. Counting each bean bag as it is thrown will allow the children to see that the smaller container fills up faster, requiring fewer bean bags. Use bean bags in assorted sizes so they can experiment with the concept of quantity. This variation works best with bean bags that are colored by size. For example, let them fill up the small container with large yellow bean bags, or the large container with small orange bean bags.
This activity is designed to let toddlers experiment with the concepts of big and small. Gather one larger bean bag and one smaller bean bag per child. The dimensions are not important since, comparatively speaking, one will be bigger and the other will be smaller. Talk about each bean bag first, explaining the difference in size. On your command, the children will toss the appropriate size bean bag into the air.