Adorable DIY Magnetic Ladybug Counting Game

A DIY Counting Game for Ladybug-Loving Preschoolers!

Looking for a fun way to expose your little one to early math concepts?

Why not try your hand at making this fun and easy magnetic ladybug counting game?

Inspired by our bunny tails color sorting game, these colorful ladybugs are sure to engage your toddler or preschooler in lots of preschool and early math learning – like one-to-one correspondence, matching number symbols to quantities, fine motor practice, and learning about insects – in a playful and tactile way.

Here’s how to make it…

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How to Make Your DIY Magnetic Ladybug Counting Game

Supplies:

• medium circular object to trace medium sized circles (i.e. a bowl, a roll of masking tape, a canning lid ring)
• small circular object to trace small sized circles (i.e. a large button, a smaller roll of tape)
• pencil
• red and black cardstock
• scissors
• tape or a glue stick
• small round magnets
• black pompoms
• round reinforcement labels
• glue gun
• number magnets
• thermal laminator (optional)
• a metal or magnetic surface to play on (i.e. a baking sheet pan, refrigerator door)

Steps for Making the Ladybugs:

Use the medium circular object and a pencil to trace the medium-sized circles for the ladybug bodies and wings onto black and red cardstock.  You will need one medium-sized black cardstock circle and one medium-sized red cardstock circle for each ladybug.

Use the small circular object and a pencil to trace the small circles for the ladybug bodies and wings onto black cardstock.  You will need one small black cardstock circle for each ladybug.

Cut out all traced circles.  Cut each medium-sized red circle into two equal halves.

Cut two small rectangle shaped antennae from the black cardstock scraps for each ladybug.

Use tape or a glue stick to assemble the cardstock circles into ladybugs as follows:

• First, the small black circle “head” slightly overlapping the medium-sized black circle “body.”
• Then, the red half circle “wings” – open but overlapping one another slightly – on top of the black circle “body.”
• Finally, the two “antennae” sticking up from the little black circle “head.”
• Place reinforcement labels on the “wings” of the ladybugs to act as “targets” for the pom-pom magnets.  (Each ladybug should have a different number of “targets” from 1 through 6.)
• Repeat until all ladybugs are assembled.

If you have access to a laminator, use it to laminate each ladybug for added durability.

To Make the Pom-Pom Magnets:

Use a hot glue gun to glue a black pom-pom to each small circle magnets.  You will need to make 21 of these for a game of 1 through 6.

How to Set Up Your Ladybug Counting Game for Play & Learning:

For One-to-One Correspondence & Counting:

Attach the ladybugs to a magnetic surface with a small tape roll.  Arrange the pom-pom magnets along the sides.

For Number Symbol Recognition:

If you are introducing number symbols, place number magnets on the magnetic surface as well.  Your little ones can place the pompoms on the ladybugs to form their “spots,” and then count the spots and find the corresponding number symbol, which can be placed on the ladybug’s body as pictured.

Stephanie is a speech-language pathologist specializing in early language and autism who is currently staying home with her two-year-old twins. She blogs about early childhood activities, creative projects, and parenting adventures (and mishaps) at Twodaloo. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and G+.

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More Creative Counting Fun:

This post contains affiliate links.  Which just means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will receive a small percentage of the sale – without your price being any higher!  Thank you for your continued support.  For more information, see my disclosure policy.