POPPING INTO MATH: FUN & LOW-PREP POP IT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS

Let’s be real—kids love Pop Its. And if you’ve ever found yourself absentmindedly pressing those little bubbles while waiting for your coffee to reheat (again), you get it. They’re oddly satisfying. But beyond their fidget-friendly appeal, Pop Its can also be a sneaky little math tool for your preschooler.

Yep, that’s right. You can harness the power of the Pop It craze for number recognition, counting, and even beginner addition and subtraction. No worksheets required. Just some playful, hands-on math that actually holds your child’s attention.

Here are some easy, engaging ways to turn those colorful little bubbles into learning gold.

1. POP IT NUMBER MATCHING GAME (WITH A WATERY TWIST!)

What’s better than popping bubbles? Filling them with water first, of course. This activity is all about matching numbers and working on fine motor skills—because those little hand muscles need a workout too.

What You Need:

• A 1-100 Pop It fidget toy
• Eyedropper (or a small spoon)
• Index cards numbered 1-100
• Permanent marker

How to Play:

1. Shuffle the number cards and have your child pick one.
2. Find the matching number on the Pop It and push it in.
3. Use the eyedropper to fill the popped bubble with water. (Watch their little hands work that squeeze—hello, pre-writing skills!)
4. Repeat until all numbers are matched or until excitement turns into an impromptu splash zone.

2. COUNTING WITH POP IT: SIMPLE & SATISFYING

If your preschooler is just getting the hang of numbers, this one’s for them. It’s as simple as press, count, repeat—but somehow, the tactile satisfaction makes it way more fun than counting on fingers.

How to Play:

1. Pick a number (start small—maybe 1 to 10).
2. Have your child press each bubble while saying the number out loud.
3. Repeat in different patterns—left to right, top to bottom, or even backwards for an extra challenge.

Bonus tip: Call out numbers at random and let your child pop them as fast as they can. It’s preschooler-approved fun anda great way to build quick number recall.

3. POP IT 1-100 CHALLENGE

For kids ready to take number recognition to the next level, this activity turns a basic 1-100 Pop It into an interactive number hunt.

What You Need:

• A 1-100 Pop It
• A printable 1-100 number chart
• A marker or stickers

How to Play:

1. Call out a number and have your child find and pop it.
2. Once they pop it, they cross it off the number chart.
3. Keep going until the whole board is complete (or until attention spans run out).

This activity strengthens number sequencing and visual tracking. Plus, it adds a little treasure-hunt excitement to learning numbers.

4. POP IT ADDITION & SUBTRACTION

Math worksheets? No thanks. Math that involves popping bubbles? Now we’re talking.

How to Play:

1. Write simple math problems directly onto a blank Pop It with a dry-erase marker. Think: “2 + 3” or “5 – 2.”
2. Have your child solve the problem by popping the correct number of bubbles.
3. Wipe it clean and repeat with new problems.

This is a fun way to introduce math facts without memorization drills. And let’s be honest—who doesn’t like an excuse to pop more bubbles?

MAKING MATH FUN (AND ACTUALLY MEMORABLE)

The best learning activities don’t feel like “learning” at all. Pop Its take something kids already love and turn it into an easy, low-prep way to practice math without a fight. Whether your child is working on number recognition, counting, or beginner math facts, these activities make it hands-on, engaging, and—most importantly—fun.

So grab a Pop It and start popping your way to playful math time. Just maybe keep a towel handy if you go all in on the water version. Happy popping!