INSIDE: Cotton Ball Apple Counting Activity is a fun hands-on math activity for toddlers and preschoolers. It also a great way to practice fine motor skills.
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How to Set Up Cotton Ball Apple Tree Counting Activity
Grab a piece of cardboard. You’ll want it to be large enough to fit the apple trees and have extra room around it to help to keep the mess down.
Use your paint sticks and draw 6 trees. Then take a sharpie and write the numbers you want your little one to count to on the trunk.
Take your cotton balls and glue down the same number of cotton balls on the green foliage of the tree. (If doing this activity with a preschooler you can have them do this part of the activity).
Counting your Cotton Ball Apples
If this is the first time your little one is using an eye droppers I suggest practicing using them with just water before adding the food colouring.
Once they get the hang of squeezing and letting go to draw the water up the eye dropper you can add yellow, green and red food colouring into bowls of water.
Invite your child to identify a number on the tree and then count the cotton balls. Then have them use the eye droppers to count and colour the cotton ball apples!
Containing the Mess
This is indeed can be a messy activity. The good news is that the cardboard will catch and absorb most of the mess. Make sure to use a piece of cardboard large enough to hold the apple trees with some room surrounding it to catch any run off.
Another way to contain the mess is to cover your table in Kraft paper or larger pieces of cardboard to protect it as well. Also dress your child play clothes as the coloured water may stain.
Age Suitability
This activity is good for kids 2.5 years and up. My kids are 3.5, 3.5, and 7 year old.
Supplies for Cotton Ball Apple Counting Activity
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- Cotton Balls
- Glue
- Paint sticks
- Cardboard
- Eye droppers
- Bowls
- Food Colouring
- Water
Looking for more Fall activities? Check out of these other round-ups for more ways to keep your toddler or preschooler busy this Fall:
- 31 Awesome Toddler Halloween Costumes
- 30+ Cute & Easy Pumpkin Crafts & Activities for Kids
- 25+ Awesome Pumpkin Painting Ideas for Kids
- 30+ Adorable Apple Crafts for Kids
- 50+ Simple and Fun Fall Activities
- The Best Fall Sensory Bins for Kids
- 21+ Fabulous Fall Crafts for Kids
WILL YOU TRY COTTON BALL APPLE COUNTING WITH YOUR TODDLER OR PRESCHOOLER? PIN IT FOR LATER!
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