Here is a fun activity for children who are learning to count and are just realising that numbers of objects remain the same even if they are hidden or moved. You need: a cloth and five small toys. Show the toys, count them together and agree on the total. Cover the toys with the cloth. Ask how many toys are under the cloth. Make sure that they agree that there are still five. Check if necessary. Then take one toy out from under the cloth. Ask how many toys are hidden and how many toys there are altogether. Our Further Resources section, especially the Practical Ideas, is quickly becoming a very useful resource for parents to find fun activities which help with maths. Hide the toys