Learning to count out loud isn’t that difficult, but writing the numbers on paper can be a real challenge for small hands. Years ago, I found these helpful little teaching rhymes in an Amish workbook; children can say them out loud while drawing the numbers:

1 “A straight line down and then you’re done- this is how you make a one.”

2 “Around and back on a railroad track: TWO TWO TWO!”

3 “Around a tree and around a tree – this is how you make a three.”

4 “Down and over, down some more – this is how you make a four.”

5 “Down the trunk and around the tree – add a branch, it’s five you see!”

6 “Curving down into a loop – number six can roll a hoop.”

7 “Straight across and down from Heaven – this is how you make a seven.”

8 “Make an “S” but do not wait – climb back up to make an eight.”

9 “A loop on top and then a line – this is how to make a nine.”

10 “Make a “1” and then an “O.” It’s easy to make a 10, you know.”

If you’d like to print out a full-size copy of the above document for laminating or hanging, I created this printer-friendly PDF document.