Help little ones develop stronger counting skills by counting without seeing. Find a sturdy shoe box and cut out an opening on one short side that is large enough to fit a hand through. Secure the lid onto the box with tape so that it cannot be opened.
Place small objects like coins, marbles, buttons, acorns or seashells into the box. Vary the items and the number of the items each time. For example, start by placing five buttons into the box. Ask your child to put her hand into the box and count the objects with only her hand. Remove the buttons after she has counted them and replace them with seven seashells. Ask your child to count these objects. Continue as many times as desired with a different number of objects each time.
Play a game that encourages little ones to connect a written number with a number of objects. Use a paper lunch bag, index cards and 10 colorful buttons. Have your child help you write numbers between one and 10 on index cards. After writing a number, fold the index card and place it in the bag. Invite your child to draw a card from the bag and tell you what it is. After identifying the number, encourage the child to count out that number of buttons. Repeat with more cards and more buttons to give your child a chance to count out each number. As a child grows more adept at this game, increase the numbered cards to 20.
Play a fun counting game that involves eating what is counted. Use an egg carton, a permanent marker and small treats like raisins or nuts. Number each slot in the egg carton with the marker and show your child the numbers. Invite your child to place the correct number of treats into each slot in the egg carton. Place one raisin in the slot marked with a one and two raisins in the slot marked with a two, and so on. After all of the slots are filled with treats, your child can work backwards to count out the treats in each slot and eat them.