Early Math Worksheets & Teaching Guides for Preschool and Kindergarten

Early math skills help children understand numbers, patterns, and problem-solving. These simple guides and printables support counting, number sense, shapes, patterns, and hands-on exploration. Perfect for centers, morning tubs, small groups, or at-home practice.

What Is Counting?

Counting is one of the first early math skills children develop. It helps them understand how numbers work, how quantities relate to each other, and how we use numbers in everyday life. Counting lays the foundation for later skills like addition, subtraction, number patterns, and problem-solving.Why Counting Matters

When children learn to count, they’re doing more than saying numbers out loud — they’re learning to match numbers to real objects, compare amounts, and understand “how many.” These skills strengthen number sense and prepare children for all future math learning.How to Teach Counting

Counting is best learned through hands-on experiences. Use objects children can touch, move, or group — such as counters, blocks, toys, or themed pictures. Counting worksheets support these experiences by giving children structured practice in recognizing numbers, matching quantities, and counting objects within themes they enjoy.

What Is Number Sense?

Number sense is a child’s understanding of what numbers mean and how they relate to each other. It includes recognizing numbers, comparing quantities, understanding “more” and “less,” and knowing that numbers represent real amounts.

Why Number Sense Matters

Strong number sense helps children make sense of counting, begin simple addition and subtraction, recognize patterns, and solve early math problems. Without number sense, math can feel confusing — with it, children develop confidence and curiosity about numbers.

How to Build Number Sense

Provide opportunities for hands-on counting, sorting, grouping, and comparing. Use manipulatives, themed counting pictures, number matching worksheets, and activities that encourage children to talk about quantities. Repetition with different themes helps learning stick.

What Are Patterns in Early Math?

What Are Patterns?

Patterns are repeating sequences that follow a predictable order, such as AB (red, blue) or ABC (circle, square, triangle). Recognizing patterns helps children understand order, predict what comes next, and make sense of early math concepts.

Why Patterns Matter

Patterns form the basis for many advanced skills, including problem-solving, number sequences, addition, and algebraic thinking. Children who understand patterns can sort, classify, and organize information more easily.

How to Teach Patterns

Use hands-on activities with blocks, beads, manipulatives, or themed picture cards. Practice extending, copying, and creating simple patterns. Worksheets can provide structured practice with AB, ABC, and growing patterns, reinforcing skills in a fun, visual way.

What Are Shapes?

Shapes are basic geometric forms such as circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. Recognizing and naming shapes helps children understand spatial relationships and early geometry concepts.

Why Shapes Matter

Learning shapes builds visual discrimination, classification skills, and early math vocabulary. It also prepares children for more advanced geometry, patterning, measurement, and problem-solving tasks in kindergarten and beyond.

How to Teach Shapes

Use hands-on materials like blocks, tangrams, or everyday objects. Practice sorting shapes, identifying attributes (sides, corners), and matching shape pictures. Worksheets with tracing, coloring, or finding shapes in themed scenes offer structured practice.

What Is Sorting and Classifying?

Sorting and classifying involve grouping objects based on shared attributes—such as color, shape, size, or category. Children learn to notice similarities and differences, an important early math skill.

Why Sorting Matters

Sorting prepares children for patterning, number sense, problem-solving, and scientific thinking. It strengthens observation skills and helps children organize information in logical ways.

How to Teach Sorting

Use manipulatives, themed picture cards, or worksheets that ask children to group objects by attributes. Start with simple sorts (color, shape) and gradually introduce more complex categories (size, type, beginning sounds). Encourage children to explain their choices.