Start out with the montessori tactile numbers. These are stiff cards with raised, grainy numbers on them. Usually a set of tactile numbers will have ten cards, and each card will bear a number 1 through 10. Trace these cards with your child using the first two fingers of your dominant hand (if you are right-handed, then your right hand) while saying the name of the number. Your child will begin to imitate you without being told. As the child becomes more familiar with the numbers and the names, he can practice this lesson on his own.
Introduce the spindle box. The spindle box is a box with compartments numbered 0 though 9. It has a total of 45 spindles. Count out the appropriate number of spindles for each box with your child. For example, the first compartment, labelled "0," will have no spindles and the compartment labelled "7" will have seven spindles. As she gets familiar with the exercise, you can let her do it on her own. She will know if she did it correctly because there will be no spindles left when she is done.
Match colored bead bars and number cards together. A complete set of number cards will have the numbers necessary to make every number from 1 to 9,999. However, for this exercise you will only need the numbers 1 through 9. Colored bead bars are beads strung on stiff wire in amounts from one bead to nine beads. Each number is a different color bead. For example, the 1 bar may be white, and the six bar dark blue. Count the beads with your child and place the correct number card next to each bar. Your child may wish to arrange them in order or count them randomly. Either way is fine.
Count to ten using the number rods. The number rods can be used to demonstrate the difference between the numbers 1 through 10. If you wish, you can use them in conjunction with the number cards. Have your child count the alternating red and blue stripes to determine what number the rod shows. All the colored segments are the same size so that the rods can be lined up in ascending or descending order. You can also ask your child to find different rods. For example, you might ask him to point to three, then six, then one. You can also have him assign a number card to each rod. As with the other lessons, once he is comfortable with the materials he can work on his own.
Match names and numbers using number cards. Spread out the number cards 1 through 9, then ask your child to identify various numbers. At this point, she should be fairly familiar with the numbers and will be able to identify them correctly and possibly line them up in ascending order.
Build numbers with the golden beads.