Use crackers of all kinds and have the child sort them before eating.

Again, using all different kinds of crackers, have child name the shapes (Wheat Thins are square, Waverly Wafers are rectangles, Ritz crackers are circles (round), Oysterettes are hexagons, etc.)

Break graham crackers into different shaped rectangles... 
"How many different kinds of squares and rectangles can you make?"

Spread a layer of peanut butter on a cracker and, then, draw a number in the peanut butter. (You can cover a pencil with plastic wrap to do your writing. Or use a toothpick.) The child gets to read the number before eating the cracker. Then you can number them 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on... Have the child put them in order to eat them. (Be sure to have the child watch you draw the numbers! Your example is the best thing for their learning to write. You can do letters too.)  Putting the child's age on the cracker is fun! 
Ask, "How old are you?" Then draw that number for them. 
Ask, "How old were you last year?" Draw that number. 
Then, "How old will you be next year?" And so on.

Sort M&M's, Skittles or Fruit Loops into containers (egg carton or muffin tin) by color. Count each color before eating. 
"What color has the most?"
"What color has the least?"

back to Preschool Activities to Get Ready for Kindergarten