Fill It Up

Draw a giant number 8, then fill it up with eight things! Your little one counts out pom-poms, blocks or mini pumpkins and sets them right inside the big number. It's a simple way to connect the number they see with how many it means.

What you need

• A big piece of paper, a flattened cardboard box or a roll of paper

• A thick marker

• Eight small things to count: pom-poms, blocks, toy cars or mini pumpkins

• Optional: painter's tape to make the number on the floor instead

How to do it

1. Draw the number. Draw a big, fat 8 on the paper. "Make an S, then go back up to the top."

2. Trace it together. Your little one traces the 8 with a finger: "Around and around!"

3. Count them out. Count out eight pom-poms together, one at a time.

4. Fill it up. Your little one sets each one inside the lines of the 8, counting as they go.

5. Check it. Count again. "Did we fill it with eight? Is there room for more?"

Why we love it

Kids often learn to say numbers before they know what the numbers mean. Filling a numeral with that many things connects the shape of 8 with eight real objects. Following the lines of the 8 also helps them learn how to write it.

Tips from our table

• Try it with numbers 1 through 7 too. The smaller numbers are a great warm-up for two-year-olds.

• Older kids can fill the top circle with four things and the bottom circle with four more. Four and four make eight!

• Pom-poms and small toys can be choking hazards. Stay close and put them away when you're done.

Shop these items

Everything mentioned in this post, in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• Melissa & Doug wooden blocks

• Craft pom-poms

• Crayola washable markers

• ScotchBlue painter's tape

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our Pumpkin activities, Letter H activities and Number 8 activities.

Every child is different. Please use your own judgment about what's safe and right for your family. Always supervise children during activities and while eating, and adjust foods for allergies, dietary needs and your child's age and chewing ability. Sprocket & Sprout shares these ideas for fun and learning only. We are not responsible for any injury, allergic reaction, damage or mess that may result from trying them. This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.