Easy Bean Bag Number Toss Game on the Stairs

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When you combine learning and play, your hands-on activity is naturally fun! Try this kids bean bag number toss game to help your preschooler learn counting skills.

I am all for little ones learning on the move.

Running, jumping, walking, and climbing. All those things my little ones do all day long are perfect chances for me to add in a little learning.

Like number learning on the stairs!

Easy Bean Bag Number Toss Game on the Stairs for Preschoolers

When you combine learning and play, your hands-on activity is naturally fun! Try this bean bag number toss game for kids to help your preschooler learn counting skills.

Benjamin is just on the brink of learning his numbers. He can count quite well and he is beginning to recognize some of his numbers.

But like many little ones, he has one number he skips when he is counting. Right now, he’s missing number 5.

He will be counting up a storm: 1, 2, 3, 4 … 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. And he’ll keep right on going without realizing he missed 5!

So I thought I would play a little bean bag toss game with him to focus on that number 5.

I chose to work on numbers, but you can mix up this activity to work on letters, colors, shapes, and tons of other simple learning topics.

A simple bean bag number toss game on the stairs is a great activity for preschoolers!

This bean bag number toss game has all the makings of a perfect activity for kids!

It’s simple to set up, easy to play, lots of moving, and learning that can be easily adjusted to be ideal for each little one.

For this Number Game for Kids, You’ll Need:

  • Bean bags (or socks with some dried beans)
  • Paper and tape (or big Post-It Notes)
  • Markers or crayons

First, I wrote the numbers 1 through 5 on small squares of paper. I also had dots on each paper to match the written number.

Then, I taped them on the stairs.

For beginning readers, you could also add in the spelled-out number words.

Once the numbers were on the stairs, I handed Benjamin his bean bags and told him to toss the bags to hit the numbers.

A simple bean bag number toss game on the stairs is a great activity for preschoolers!

At first he was just tossing the bean bags and getting the hang of things.

Then I added a challenging twist to our bean bag toss game. I called out a number and he would try to hit that stair with the beanbag.

Eventually, he was calling numbers for himself and trying to hit his own targets.

He played this number learning game for a very long time!

Every time he walked up the stairs to collect the beanbags we would count the steps: one, two, three, four, five.

He still stumbled a few times, saying 6 instead of 5, but by the end he was correcting himself. I bet after playing this bean bag toss game a few more times, Benjamin will get the hang of it!

A simple bean bag number toss game on the stairs is a great activity for preschoolers!

Leaving these numbers on the stairs is a great way to practice counting each day too.

A simple bean bag number toss game on the stairs is a great activity for preschoolers!

Mix Addition into Your Bean Bag Number Toss Game

Once Sam was home, we played again. But I increased the challenge for my older child.

I would call out a number – like 5 – and he would have to toss 2 bean bags to total that number.

So when I called 5, he threw one beanbag and hit the number 3. He did a quick count and then took aim for the number 2.

It was a great way for him to practice his simple addition skills!

There’s oodles of simple learning with this game.

More Bean Bag Toss Game Ideas for Kids

You could do this same bean bag toss game with colors, shapes, double facts, multiplication, sight words, letters, anything!

It’s amazing how many times we actually go up and down the stairs in a day. It means that there’s tons of chances to practice your target skill.

We sure like to keep things simple, and I must say it just doesn’t get much simpler than this bean bag number toss game for kids.

What are you favorite simple and active learning activities? Post your ideas in the comments!