You can find them here. http://www.safespaceconcepts.com/

Take a look at the page called “Tools for Discovery” and explore the wonderful materials they have that support early math learning.  I love the huge Tic-Tac-Toe board

and the cooperative arch building set.

Tic-Tac-Toe is a game that even very young children can begin playing.  They practice taking turns, recognizing the symbols X and O, and exploring spatial relations.  Unlike older children, Tic-Tac-Toe often ends with a winner, rather than a cat’s game, but that is OK.  In order to really master Tic-Tac-Toe children have to be able to see more than one aspect of the game at once, which is nearly impossible for young children to do. It is actually much more fun to play it with young children and observe how committed they are to completing a row of Xs or Os.

The arch building set requires a certain amount of cooperation between children, which in and of itself, is difficult.  This kind of arch is especially tricky because it demands an understanding of the “keystone concept.”  I bet you know a lot of adults who don’t understand this concept.  Anyway, I think this set will provide a lot of satisfying play in a classroom.  The  blocks are numbered which provides extra clues to how to assemble the arch.  You may find that the children can build it successfully horizontally before they figure out how to get it together vertically.

Take a minute to check out these cool products and so much more.  I am afraid to look at the prices so I am recommending these products even though I don’t know how much they cost.  I didn’t want the cost to get in the way of my delight with the products.

Dominos were originally designed as an adult game with versions like Muggins, Mexican Train or Five-Up. Over the years, people have made up their own games using dominos, just like playing cards.  For generations, dominos have been a family favorite around the world.

I have written several times about dominos in the past; here, here and here. Today, I want to show you some very simple dominos designed with very young children in mind.

This set is about as simple as you can get.  The pieces are large enough for small, chubby hands, they are sturdily made, and come in a box.  There are not too many of them but enough to go around.  Each domino has two dots (pips) with one or 2 colors.  The colors are also textured to add another dimension.

One of the earliest skills sets that children are thinking about is “same and different.” While playing with them, ask the children if the pip colors are the same or different.  You can then ask if they can find the “same” domino.  Set them up so the same colors touch one another, but I wouldn’t expect toddlers to do the same.  Older infants can simply put them in the box and take them out of the box (or in the mouth or out of the mouth:).  They may even pile them up and knock them down.

Yes, dominos are for infants and toddlers too.