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Home » Play and Learning » Learning Numbers » Try this Fun Car Parking Number Match Activity with Just a Cardboard Box!

Try this Fun Car Parking Number Match Activity with Just a Cardboard Box!

By Krissy of B-Inspired Mama 36 Comments

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links; as an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy for more information.

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Collage of three photos showing a toddler child doing a DIY Car Parking Number Match Activity, including playing with small toy cars labeled with numbers and parking them in matching numbered parking spaces inside a simple DIY cardboard box parking garage.
Collage of two photos showing a DIY Car Parking Number Match Activity with small toy cars labeled with numbers and a homemade cardboard box parking garage with numbered parking spaces.

Looking for a fun and easy activity to keep your little one busy? How about an activity that engages your child’s interest and imagination while encouraging early math skills, too?!

Try This Clever Car-Themed Number Match Activity!

This play-based math activity only requires a cardboard box, some stickers, a marker, and your child’s matchbox-size cars, plus it’s easily adaptable for toddlers, preschoolers, and even Kindergarteners and school-age kids.

So grab a cardboard box from the recycling in and have your kiddo gather up some toy cars, and let the fun begin!

A collage of photos of a DIY Car Parking Number Match Activity. The activity includes a cardboard box labeled with numbered parking spaces inside and small tow cars labeled with coordinating number stickers parked in each space.

This “Car Parking Number Match Activity” post, contributed by Georgina of Craftulate, contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

How to Make a Car Parking Number Match Game

First, you’ll need to transform a plain old cardboard box into an imaginative toy car parking garage. Don’t worry — it’s easier than it sounds!

Supplies needed to make a DIY Car Parking Number Match Activity, including a shallow cardboard box, small toy cars, and number stickers.

Use scissors (or a utility knife) to cut the sides of the box down to around 3″ to 4″ high, if needed. Then, cut and fold down a section of one side to create an entrance ramp for the cars to “drive” into the garage.

Grab a marker and draw some “parking spaces” inside the box. We drew ours around the inside edges of the box. Then, write a number inside each space. We used numbers 1 through 15, but you can adjust the numbers according to what your child is learning.

A toddler child playing with a homemade car-themed number learning activity. The activity includes a cardboard box labeled with numbered parking spaces inside and small tow cars labeled with coordinating number stickers parked in each space.

Add a number sticker to the roof of each toy car (matching the numbered parking spaces) and you’ve got an imaginative number recognition activity sure to have your child counting and matching numbers for hours!

Play-Based Learning Fun: Counting and Matching Numbers

When I presented my son his new “Number Parking Garage” and “Number Cars”, he was so excited to start playing. I let him explore the car-themed number activity independently first and it didn’t take him long to start counting, recognizing numbers, and parking cars in their correlating “Number Parking Spots”.

A toddler child playing with a homemade Car Parking Number Match Activity. The activity includes a cardboard box labeled with numbered parking spaces inside and small tow cars labeled with coordinating number stickers parked in each space.

Try Interactive Identifying Numbers Games

When my kiddo got bored playing independently, I came up with some more guided number recognition games. I called out a random number for him to find and park the “Number Car” in its “Number Parking Spot”. If he got stuck, we counted the parking spaces together, pointing to each one as we counted, until we found the correct number.

When we got all of our “Number Cars” parked in their matching parking spaces, we counted them aloud again and celebrated with a little dance party, of course.

This was such an easy play-based number-learning activity to set up for a toddler or preschooler. I know my little one will get lots of learning and fun out of it!

Make Your Own Car Parking Number Matching Activity

A toddler child doing a DIY Car Parking Number Match Activity with a small toy cars each labeled with a different number, parking them in numbered parking spaces drawn inside the bottom edges of a cardboard box.

DIY Car Parking Number Match Activity

Transform a plain old cardboard box and and some toy cars into an imaginative car-themed number match activity — that's perfect for toddlers and preschoolers!
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Prep Time30 minutes
Activity Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour

Tools

  • scissors or craft knife

Materials

  • large cardboard box
  • permanent marker (black)
  • number stickers (numbered 1-15; or blank labels with numbers written on them)
  • 15 small toy cars

Steps

  • Cut the sides of the cardboard box down to around 4" high (or as desired).
  • Make an entrance ramp by cutting and folding down a section wide enough for the toy cars to "drive" through on one side of the box.
  • Make parking spaces around the inside edges of the box by drawing 3- to 4-inch perpendicular lines every 2 to 3 inches (or measured according to the size of the toy cars being used).
  • Write a number in each parking space from 1 through 15 (or numbers desired).
  • Make a matching numbered car for each numbered parking space by applying a correlating number sticker to the roof of each toy car.

Notes

Adaptations and Extensions for Learning:

  • Choose numbers the child is currently learning.
  • Adjust the number of cars/parking spaces.
  • Label parking spaces in numerical order or randomly for greater challenge.
  • Guide the child to count and touch each car/parking space at the beginning of play and when they get stuck.
  • Try an auditory number recognition game; call out a random number, and have the child identify the number car and park it in its matching parking spot.
  • For a Kindergartener or older child learning number sight words, label each parking space with a number word to match each numbered car. 
  • Try an addition and/or subtraction car math game; park 2 or 3 cars in random spaces (or ask child to do so) and have the child add the numbers. Alternatively, drive one car away and subtract that number from the total. 
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Project Type: DIY · Learning · Play
Category: Kid-Friendly

Like this Math Activity? Share with Friends!

Click on one of the social sharing buttons at the top or bottom of this post to share on social media or save for later. I’d really appreciate it!

More Fun Ideas for Counting and Matching Numbers:

  • 5 Fun Number Games for Kids
  • Printable Car Number Match Activity Video
  • DIY Mitten Number Match Counting Activity
  • Printable Beach-Themed Preschool Number Puzzle
  • Basic Printable Number Match Counting Game
  • A Simple DIY Counting Sticks Busy Bag for Preschoolers
  • Math Fun with DIY Number Rocks
This “Car Parking Number Match Activity” post, contributed by Georgina of Craftulate, contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

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Filed Under: Fun with Games, Learning Numbers, Math Fun, Play and Learning Tagged With: Cardboard Box, Cars, Math, Math Games, Numbers

About Krissy of B-Inspired Mama

Former M.Ed Art Teacher. Current Blogger & Social Media Influencer. Always Crazy & Creative Mama of 3.

Previous Post: « How to Make an Eye Patch for Lazy Eye that Your Kid Will Want to Wear!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Niki at Toot's Mom is Tired says

    March 7, 2018 at 7:02 PM

    Such a good idea! I want to try this with my toddler.

    Reply
  2. Cher says

    December 26, 2016 at 6:52 AM

    Thank you for sharing this great idea. We have a new foster grandson and I’m anxious for him to try this.

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      December 27, 2016 at 9:06 AM

      Awe – I’m so glad you’re going to try it. I hope he has fun!

      Reply
  3. E.H. says

    June 23, 2016 at 10:57 PM

    This is a great idea that combines fun with learning. Brilliant!!!

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      June 24, 2016 at 12:04 PM

      I think so, too! It was contributed by Craftulate. Definitely look up that blog for more fun ideas!

      Reply
  4. Jacquie Morrical says

    November 19, 2015 at 5:37 PM

    If you use a large pizza box you can store everything in the box besides.

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      November 20, 2015 at 8:04 AM

      Now that’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  5. Surekha says

    July 27, 2015 at 1:31 AM

    Great idea! I’ve got a good collection of cars and my children are going to love this! Thanks so much for sharing. Pinning 🙂

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      July 27, 2015 at 7:06 AM

      Isn’t it, though?! This is one of our most popular ideas here at B-Inspired Mama. Thanks for stopping by! And pinning! 😉

      Reply
  6. Acey says

    February 15, 2015 at 10:18 AM

    Great idea! I’m modifying this to be an auditory memory game for a seven year old with bilateral cochlear implants!
    (Park the green car in space 4 and the blue car in space 5….park the green car four spaces left of space 8)
    So excited, I think he will love this!

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      February 16, 2015 at 9:02 AM

      Brilliant!!! So glad you’ve found some inspiration. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Sarah Mueller says

    March 5, 2014 at 8:35 PM

    What a sweet idea! My almost 3 year old will adore this game. He’s always looking for matches between colors and things.

    Reply
  8. Maria Gorete da Silva says

    September 15, 2013 at 6:27 AM

    Gostei demais dessa ideia,fiz pro meu pequeno ele adorou!!!

    Reply
  9. Valerie says

    August 16, 2013 at 8:13 AM

    This looks very inviting. We did something somewhat similar last year with first letter sounds and “vehicles” on a “parking” sheet during out transportation week. We had a “h” “helicopter”, “c” “car”, “b” boat”, “t” “train” and more. So the idea is highly adaptable as well. I just love the huge cardboard Georgina used compared to my tiny sheet! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Ashley says

    August 13, 2013 at 7:49 AM

    So cute my little guy will love this when he gets a little older!

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      August 13, 2013 at 8:56 AM

      I know! My J.C. will, too. 🙂

      Reply
      • Ashley says

        August 14, 2013 at 7:08 AM

        Featured you this week on Mom’s Library!

        Reply
  11. Denise says

    August 12, 2013 at 12:27 AM

    Great simple play idea, Krissy. I just made a couple to add to the cars and garage area in my developmental preschool classroom. I have some little ones who I think will enjoy parking their cars in the lot! My tykes always have trouble recognizing and naming the “teens”, so one of my objectives was to include this in play. You’ve come up with an authentic play scheme. ~Denise

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      August 13, 2013 at 9:16 AM

      Actually all of the credit goes to George of Craftulate. She’s got so many great ideas! I’m so glad that you’ll be able to use this one in the classroom, Denise!

      Reply
  12. Krista @ the happy housie says

    August 10, 2013 at 1:15 AM

    This is such a great idea to use with my kindergarteners at the start of the year… You could also adapt it to have each parking spot have a specific number of dots and then the kids have to match the numbers on the car to the corresponding number of dots…. Thanks for sharing this! Pinning:)

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      August 13, 2013 at 9:18 AM

      Great idea for an adaptation, Krista!

      Reply
  13. Jessica says

    August 6, 2013 at 2:44 PM

    What a fun way to teach numbers! I like the use of stickers to label the cars. This could be modified for lots of different interests!

    Reply
  14. Laura M says

    August 6, 2013 at 12:19 PM

    That is soo cute and clever! It looks like an activity that would be played with a lot at my house!

    Reply
  15. Andrea @ No Doubt Learning says

    August 6, 2013 at 11:35 AM

    I love how you used stickers on the cars! What a fun activity for matching!

    Reply
  16. Sarah says

    August 6, 2013 at 6:15 AM

    Awesome Idea! What a great way to use what you have and learn through play!

    Reply

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