Valentine Counting Activities for Preschoolers

Preschoolers will fall in love with these simple Valentine counting activities! These little hearts are a great way for preschoolers to practice counting, number recognition, and subitizing. As a bonus, the little Valentine mailboxes are super-cute, and students love sorting the mail into them!

How to make the Valentine Counting activity:

1. Make little mailboxes out of milk cartons or purchase them. They are readily sold as party favor boxes at Target and online through Oriental Trading.
2. Label each mailbox with a number. (You can print the pink envelope numbers that are pictured above HERE for free.)
3. Print the counting hearts from this Valentine’s Number Mat set.

Valentine Number Mats

The holiday number mats can be used on their own like this:

Engaging Reluctant Learners

Some students do not have a lot of interest in sitting and completing the more “academic” centers. They are content to play in the blocks, at the sensory table, or in dramatic play all day and more reluctant to spend time at the math or literacy centers. The trick is to provide irresistible centers to attract them to those areas. These little mailboxes are irresistible!

It works! As soon as the preschoolers see the mailboxes, the students will want to count and sort the cards. Choose the correct number of mailboxes and cards for your students’ needs.

In addition to practicing one-to-one counting, they also learn about subitizing, tens frames, tallies, and base ten blocks.

Incorporate Sensory Play

Another fun option is to place the counting pieces (pom-poms, mini erasers, plastic heart filler, etc.) into a small sensory bin. Pink rice, red sand, or colored salt are all excellent options for Valentine’s Day!   Students dig through the sensory tray to find the pieces and sort them onto their counting mats.

Valentine’s Day Interactive Bulletin Board

More counting practice for preschoolers! See the pictures here.

Have fun playing and learning with your children today.