The tasks of “stomping five times” or “clapping twice” may seem simple, but they actually require preschoolers to utilize several cognitive skills. To be able to do that, children need to keep track of how many times they have stomped (with counting), remember how many times they need to stomp, constantly compare the current number of stomps and the goal number, and stop stomping when the two numbers are the same, which can require a significant amount of concentration and focus. There are many skills involved in this simple game.
Recommended Age 2-5
Math Skills subitizing, counting, ten frame
Things Needed Number action dice (printable at the bottom of this page)
Game Play
- Print and make the action dice and number dice; or if you have reusable pocket dice, insert the cut-outs in the pockets.
- Roll the action dice and the number dice. To practice subitizing of number 1-6, use the 1-6 number dice; to practice ten-frame after your child is fluent with 1-6, use the ten frame dice.
- Based on the action and the number rolled, perform that number of the action. For example, if you roll “jumping jacks” from the action dice, and a five from the number dice, then do five jumpking jacks.
- When you do the actions, make sure to pause after each count and match each count with one count of the action, so you can keep track of the number of actions.
- When using the ten-frame dice, do not count the dots from the first one, instead, say “each row has five dots, so this is five”–pointing at the first row, and then point at the dots in the second row and count on from five. For example, if you roll a
, point at the first row and say “this row has five”, then point at the dots in the second row and say “so that’s five, six, seven”.
Variations
For advanced player, you can also introduce addition with this game. Print out two 1-6 dice and roll both, use the sum as the number for the action.–let them count the dots on both dice.
For very young player, you can start with the dotted 1-3 dice.
Variations for different number of players:
The adult and child can each roll a dice and do the actions together, or take turns to roll both dice. 
Each child can roll a dice and do the actions together. Or each child can roll both dice for him/herself to do the actions, or roll both dice for the other person to do the actions.
Divide the children into two groups-one group and choose the options from the two player variations.
Printable Game Materials
