Make this Apple Picking Activity for your toddler to practice fine motor skills and number recognition. Such a fun fall activity!
We’ve been picking apples (well paper apples) here at home and counting to 12! It’s been so fun! This really makes me want to drink a cup of hot apple cider or bake an apple crumble.
But, it is way too hot still! Can the cool weather come early this year?!
I made this activity for my daughter (who is 2) to practice her fine motor skills. It morphed into a counting activity for my son (who is 4) to recognize numbers 1-12. It’s apple-picking fun for both kiddos! Yay!
We also read 10 Apples Up on Top. We set aside numbers 11 and 12. As I read the story, my son would find the number I was reading about in the apple pile and then match it up with the number in the tree.
I can’t wait until we actually go out and pick real apples! It will really tie this entire activity together!
Apple Picking Activity for Toddlers – Materials
- cardstock (green and red)
- craft sticks
- gluestick
- tape
- scissors
- knife
- permanent marker
- small box (I used an almond milk carton, washed it, dried it and cut it in half)
Apple Picking Activity for Toddlers – Instructions
Step 1. Cut 5 squares of green cardstock and glue it on your box.
Step 2. Using a knife, cut 12 slits at the top of your box.
Step 3. Cut 12 red circles out of the red carstock (I traced a small cup for the circles, then cut them out). Cut 6 smaller circles out of green cardstock (I traced a nickle) and cut the green circles in half.
Step 4. Write numbers 1-12 on the red circles with permanent marker. Glue one green half circle on each red circle to make them look like apples. Label each slit in the tree 1-12.
Step 5. Tape a craft stick to the back of each apple.
Apple Picking Activity for Toddlers – How to Play
For my daughter: I put the apples into the slits of the tree. Then, I had her pull them out and put them in the basket (which helps her practice transferring items from on thing to another).
Next, I had her put the apples back in. This helps her with practicing pinching (a fine motor skill). My son did this too!
For my son: I had him do the same thing. But, when he went to put the apples back in, I had him match the numbers (for number recognition). Every time he matched one, I asked him what the number was. If he couldn’t remember, I told him the number.
Here is my son matching up the apples (my daughter wanted to match the numbers too):
I hope you have some apple-picking fun with your kiddos!
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Please note: The Mama Workshop is not a credentialed teacher. This is simply an activity to do to supplement your child’s learning.
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