Playing with Numbers: Toys that Teach

I am a blog ambassador for Lakeshore and am compensated for my work. I received product free of charge, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Looking for great toys that teach? Check out these ideas for playing with numbers.

I’m not going to sugar coat this: I am a toy snob. I am picky picky about the toys I bring into our house.

Play, of course, is a toy’s highest purpose. But more than that, I’m looking for open ended, educational, and long lasting play. I love toys that bring a little extra to the table, toys that my kids can play with for years, and toys that teach.

My latest obsession is playing with numbers and finding toys that are perfect for counting, numeral recognition, and general number sense. I have found three amazing  toys that do just that.

3 Awesome Toys that Teach

Playing with numbers and interacting with them in a non-drill and kill, relaxed setting is my absolute favorite way to immerse my kids in math. Think of it as the learning equivalent to hiding vegetables in a cookie.

My kids and I have fallen in love with three great toys that teach from Lakeshore Learning. Each toy is fun and entertaining but also highly educational.

Number-Bots

Is it a number?
Is it a robot?

It’s both and it’s the coolest toy on the block in our house. These Number-Bots are perfect for play time and learning time.

Along with the great number learning that this toy brings, it’s also terrific for fine motor skills and problem solving. It takes a lot of thinking and dexterity to turn each number to a robot.

And, as my kids get older, this set comes with operation signs so we can make our own Number-Bot equations. This toy will last years.

Counting Cars

These Counting Cars have it all: they invite children to count to numbers 1-10, see the quantity of that number, compare the quantity of multiple numbers, and have a whole lot of fun.

My kids love playing with these together. They build there cars and fill them full of people, counting as they go.

The number at the front of the car matches the amount of people that can drive the car, giving my kids a chance to see the quantity matched to the numeral.

The cars are great for racing around our house, blazing a number sense trail in their path.

Unlock It! Number Match

The Unlock It! Number Match lock and key set have been a fine motor skills and number sense wonder for us!

This toy is such a great challenge: matching numeral keys to locks. The locks have stars in the numeral amount and the number word on the other side. Finding the right key to go with each lock is the name of the game!

These locks have so much longevity to them – right now, my son is working on locks 1-9, but there are 20! As his number skills grow, more locks can come out to practice and learn with.

Looking further ahead, as he learns to read, these locks will be great in helping him recognize and read number words.

But for now, these locks are a hot item at my house. They invite imaginary play and learning all in one toy.

What’s your favorite toy that teaches?

These three toys are all part of Lakeshore’s Gifts for Growing Minds catalog, full of more than 200 products for ages birth to 11. Many of the toys featured are exclusive to Lakeshore and perfect to learn with.

Looking to grab some toys that teach for your kids? Use this 20% off coupon from Lakeshore Learning! To learn more about Lakeshore, find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.