What you need to get started:

1. Wooden toy cars
2. Washi tape 
3. Marker pen
4. Large, flat surface (a table or the floor are perfect)

Steps:

1. Prepare the Track: Lay down strips of washi tape on the flat surface to create a track for the toy cars. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you like.
2. Number the Track: Alongside the track, write numbers on pieces of washi tape. Make sure they're in sequential order to aid counting. You can place these numbers randomly along the track or in a specific pattern, depending on the level of challenge you want to provide. We turned ours into parking spaces!
3. Dot Counting on Cars: On each wooden toy car, use a marker or pen to draw dots representing numbers. For instance, for the car labelled with the number "3", draw three dots on it. For the car labelled with the number "5", draw five dots, and so on.
4. Start Racing and Counting: Let the children race the cars around the track. As they move the cars along the track, encourage them to count the dots on each car aloud. When they reach a section of the track with a number written on washi tape, ask them to match the number of dots on the car to the correct number.
5. Encourage Learning: Ask your child about the numbers they see and the dots on the cars, for example "How many dots are on the car labelled with number 2” or "Can you find the number 3 on the track?"
6. Variations and add ons: To make this activity more challenging, you can introduce obstacles on the track that the cars must avoid. You could also add further maths like adding or subtracting by asking the children to move the cars forward or backward a certain number of spaces.

This activity combines the fun of playing with toy cars with the educational benefits of counting and number recognition, making it an engaging learning activity for children.

We used the Mentari Colourful Car Assortment in this activity which is includes 5 Plastic-Free, wooden toy cars with wooden wheels and cut out windows. Have fun learning through play!