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!
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!
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.
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”.
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
DIY Car Parking Number Match Activity
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.
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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Niki at Toot's Mom is Tired says
Such a good idea! I want to try this with my toddler.
Cher says
Thank you for sharing this great idea. We have a new foster grandson and I’m anxious for him to try this.
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Awe – I’m so glad you’re going to try it. I hope he has fun!
E.H. says
This is a great idea that combines fun with learning. Brilliant!!!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
I think so, too! It was contributed by Craftulate. Definitely look up that blog for more fun ideas!
Jacquie Morrical says
If you use a large pizza box you can store everything in the box besides.
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Now that’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Surekha says
Great idea! I’ve got a good collection of cars and my children are going to love this! Thanks so much for sharing. Pinning 🙂
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Isn’t it, though?! This is one of our most popular ideas here at B-Inspired Mama. Thanks for stopping by! And pinning! 😉
Acey says
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!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Brilliant!!! So glad you’ve found some inspiration. 🙂
Sarah Mueller says
What a sweet idea! My almost 3 year old will adore this game. He’s always looking for matches between colors and things.
Maria Gorete da Silva says
Gostei demais dessa ideia,fiz pro meu pequeno ele adorou!!!
Valerie says
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! 🙂
Ashley says
So cute my little guy will love this when he gets a little older!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
I know! My J.C. will, too. 🙂
Ashley says
Featured you this week on Mom’s Library!
Denise says
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
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
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!
Krista @ the happy housie says
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:)
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Great idea for an adaptation, Krista!
Jessica says
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!
Laura M says
That is soo cute and clever! It looks like an activity that would be played with a lot at my house!
Andrea @ No Doubt Learning says
I love how you used stickers on the cars! What a fun activity for matching!
Sarah says
Awesome Idea! What a great way to use what you have and learn through play!