Kid Tested Tools to Share: Counting Bears (#2 in Series)

Good afternoon!  Today's blog entry is #2 in a series where I am highlighting some of our favorite kid-tested items!  I am a homeschooling mom with children who are ages 5 and 7.  We have discovered quite a few tools this year that have been put to LOTS of use here in our home.  Many of these nifty items are not limited to homeschooling purposes and I am excited to share our top picks with you!

I purchased these counting bears from amazon last spring.  See Amazon for Counting Bears.  The curriculum that we have used this past year suggested acquiring some sort of small manipulative item, such as beans.  I was shopping for a classroom wall calender on amazon and happened to spot these.  They cost just under $9 and have been an excellent value!  Think beyond simply having a manipulative to use while going through workbook pages... these little bears can be used to create patterns, tell stories, talk about even and odd #'s, sort by color, basic addition and subtraction, and more!  They are small in size, so you would want to be careful while using them around younger children. They stand up perfectly and I LOVE that they do not roll off of the table!  That is a top feature from my perspective!  Always a bonus on the days where it feels as though the pencil, crayon or marker has somehow rolled to the edge and dropped to the floor for the 10th time that morning.  You can count on the bears!  The colors are cheerful and these little guys can add interest to any activity, whether your goal is play or educational.  Counting Bears oftentimes accomplish both!