Peg the Number: Careful Counting to 20
Peg the Number: Careful Counting to 20
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✓ Print at home as many times as your family needs
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Help your child develop accurate counting and number recognition with this hands-on picture-card activity.
Children carefully count each collection of objects before choosing and pegging the numeral that represents the correct quantity. This strengthens one-to-one correspondence—the understanding that every object must be counted once and matched with one number word.
Accurate counting is an essential foundation for future mathematical learning. Using pegs also strengthens the small muscles and pincer grip needed for pencil control, writing, cutting and completing everyday classroom tasks.
The included demonstration video shows you how to introduce the activity and adapt it as your child’s counting confidence develops.
Make it easier
Begin with cards containing quantities 1–5. Encourage your child to touch or point to each picture as they count aloud.
Simplify the choices by covering or removing one incorrect answer, allowing your child to choose between two numerals.
Make it harder
Progress to larger quantities and introduce the extension cards covering numbers 13–20.
Once your child can count accurately and confidently, introduce a gentle time challenge. Accuracy should remain the priority, so encourage them to check their answer before attaching the peg.
Skills supported
- Careful and accurate counting
- One-to-one correspondence
- Matching quantities to numerals
- Recognising numerals 1–20
- Number sense
- Visual tracking
- Pincer-grip development
- Hand and finger strength
- Hand-eye coordination
- Concentration and perseverance
What you’ll receive
- A six-page printable activity covering quantities 1–12
- A four-page extension pack covering quantities 13–20
- 20 colourful picture-counting cards
- Three numeral choices on each activity card
- A step-by-step demonstration video
- Ideas for making the activity easier or more challenging
What you’ll need
- Printed activity cards
- Clothes pegs or another suitable marker
- Child-safe scissors to prepare the cards
Recommended for: Children approximately 3½–6 years old
Format: 10 printable PDF pages with online video access
Please note: This is a digital product. No physical item will be posted. Children must be supervised when using scissors and clothes pegs.
How do I get my resources?
Straight after checkout you'll see your access links on the order confirmation page, and we email them to you too. Printables download instantly and you can find everything again in your account.
Printing tips
Print on A4 paper at home or at your local print shop. Pop pages in a plastic sleeve or laminate them so your child can use them again with a whiteboard marker.
Can I share the files?
You're welcome to print as many copies as you need for your own family. Please don't share or resell the files.
Refunds and help
If a file is faulty or not as described, get in touch and we'll fix it or refund you. This doesn't affect your rights under Australian Consumer Law.