Number
Reception · Maths
Count, spot patterns and play with numbers to 10.
Choose a game
Take your time, try a game and collect stars.
How many can you see?
See 3 ladybirds at a glance, without counting. Sort pictures of 1 to 5 things into number boxes in this free Reception maths game.
Play How many can you see?Count to 10
Count a row of up to 10 animals and match it to its number in this free Reception maths game.
Play Count to 10Make 5 and make 10
4 and ? make 5. Find the missing part to make 5 or 10 in this free Reception maths game.
Play Make 5 and make 10
Learning about number
These Reception Maths games practise How many can you see?, Count to 10, Make 5 and make 10. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Use real things such as toys, buttons or snacks before playing. Count together, touching each one, then say the last number again: “5. There are 5.” Read the cards aloud while your child chooses.
Ask: “How do you know? Can you show me?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
How many can you see?
Subitising means seeing how many things there are without counting them one by one. Children recognise small amounts, up to 5, at a glance.
Try an example: 🐞🐞🐞
Three ladybirds sit in a row. You can see three at once.
Show the answer
3
What to look out for
Counting every time, even for 1 or 2 Praise quick looks. Flash a card for a second and ask how many.
Count to 10
Counting to 10 means saying one number for each thing and knowing that the last number said tells you how many there are.
Try an example: 🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The last number is 9.
Show the answer
9
What to look out for
Skipping or counting a picture twice Point to each picture once, moving left to right.
Make 5 and make 10
Number bonds are pairs of numbers that make a total, such as 4 and 1 make 5. Children learn bonds to 5 and some bonds to 10 until they know them without counting.
Try an example: 4 and ? make 5
Hold up 4 fingers. One more finger makes 5.
Show the answer
1
What to look out for
Giving the total instead of the missing part Read the question together and point to the question mark.
Practise away from the screen
- Roll a dice and ask how many dots before your child counts them.
- Count stairs as you climb them, saying one number per step.
- Use 5 small toys. Hide some under a cup and ask how many are hidden.
Curriculum connections
These games support selected practice connected to the Number early learning goal in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework for England. The goals describe what children are expected to know and do by the end of Reception. A game offers a few playful examples; it does not assess a goal.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with number?
Start with How many can you see?. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. These games give short, playful practice. Reception learning is mostly hands-on play, talk and stories, so use the games alongside those, not instead of them.