Ask them to put a mark in the red column every time you stop at a red light and a mark in the green column when you go through a green light. Then ask them if there were more red than green, fewer red than green, or the same number of each. Children will learn a little about data recording and interpreting and see that numbers can tell them something about their own life. Ask children to look for numbers in the environment, like the numbers on street signs, storefronts, or license plates. Play license plate games.
Children can practice recognizing numbers or finding patterns.
Sing songs that rhyme, repeat, or have numbers in them. These songs reinforce patterns in words and sound, and are playful ways for children to practice language and mathematics skills. Ask children to count to a specific number, count until you arrive at your destination, or just count as high as they can go. Count the telephone poles as you pass them. This not only practices counting but also gives children a sense of rhythm and its relationship to time and space.