The Ultimate Guide to Easy Number Crafts for Preschoolers

Creating number crafts in your daycare doesn’t have to be complicated—in fact, it can be one of the easiest (and most engaging!) activities you set up for your little learners. With just a few simple materials, you can turn any number into a fun, hands-on learning experience. These three photos are perfect examples of how effortless and creative number crafts can be.

1 – Tissue Paper Number (great for any number)

Materials Needed

• Printed or hand-drawn number 1 outline on white cardstock

• Tissue paper squares (pastel colors work beautifully—yellow, pink, blue)

• Glue stick or liquid glue

• Black marker (optional for outlining the number)

• Container or tray to hold the tissue pieces

  
  

Steps

Start With a Bold Number 1

Print or draw a large number 1 in thick black outline. A bold outline helps guide little hands and keeps the craft visually clear once the tissue paper is added.

Prep the Tissue Paper

Cut pastel tissue paper into small squares.This is a great time-saver if you prep a bunch ahead of time and keep them in a basket for quick, no-prep activities.

Add the Glue

Have children apply glue inside the number 1. They can either:

• Spread glue with a glue stick

• Dot liquid glue around the inside of the shape

Make sure the glue stays within the outline.

Place the Tissue Paper Squares

Let the children stick the colorful tissue squares all inside the number. They can overlap the pieces to create a soft, stained-glass effect just like in the photo. There’s no “right way” to place the tissue—the overlapping, layering, and color mixing all make this craft beautiful and unique.

Optional Finishing Touch

If you'd like, you can help the child write their name or a phrase like:“Myla is Number 1”This adds a sweet personal touch and helps with name recognition.

Bonus #1 Craft: One Sun

Start with a big outline of the number 1. Let the children color or paint it bright yellow, then glue strips of yellow paper around it to create sun rays. It’s a cheerful way to remember there is one sun in the sky!

2 – Number 2 Silly Character

Materials Needed

• Printed or hand-drawn number 2 on white cardstock

• Crayons, markers, or watercolor paints

• Purple construction paper (for legs and arms)

• Orange construction paper (for feet and hands)

• Scissors (teachers only)

• Glue stick

• Googly eyes or a black marker for drawing eyes

Steps

Start With a Large Number 2

Print or draw a big number 2 on white cardstock. This will be the body of your silly character.

Let the Kids Decorate the Number

Children can color the number 2 however they like—markers, crayons, scribbles, patterns… everything works! In the example, the number is filled with colorful zigzags and shading, giving it a fun, fuzzy look.

Add the Eyes

You can glue on googly eyes or draw them near the top curve of the number 2.Encourage kids to add eyelashes, eyebrows, or silly expressions to give it personality.

Make the Accordion Legs

Cut two long strips of purple construction paper. Fold each strip back and forth (accordion-style) until it’s completely folded. This gives the character its bouncy, wiggly legs.

Add the Feet

Cut two little oval or teardrop shapes from orange construction paper.Glue them to the bottom of each folded leg.

Attach the Legs

Glue the tops of the accordion legs to the bottom of the number 2.Make sure they dangle freely so they move when the craft hangs on the wall.

Make the Arms

Cut two more long purple strips for arms—these can stay straight or get folded like the legs.Glue them to each side of the number. Add orange hands or mittens if you’d like!

Add Finishing Touches

Kids can:

• Draw a mouth

• Add decorations to the arms

• Write their name on the number

• Add patterns to the legs

Bonus #2 Craft: Two-Wing Butterfly

The number 2 makes a perfect butterfly body. Add two big wings—one on each side—then let the kids decorate with tissue paper or dot markers. This helps reinforce the idea of “two.”

3 – Three-Scoop Ice Cream

The curves of the number 3 look just like stacked scoops. Print a cone shape and let the children glue three colorful circles on top. Instant ice cream!

4 – Dino-Four Craft

Materials Needed

• Printed or hand-drawn number 4 on white cardstock

• Crayons, markers, or paint

• Construction paper (green works great, but any color is fine)

• Googly eye (optional but fun!)

• Glue

• Scissors (teacher-cut only)

  
  

Steps

Start With a Big Number Four

Print or draw a large 4 in the center of the paper. This will become the dinosaur’s body. A chunky font works best, so kids have more space to decorate.

Color the Number

Let the kids color or paint the number 4 in any dinosaur color they like—green, brown, orange, or even rainbow. This is their dino, so anything goes!

Add the Dino Head

Cut a simple dinosaur head shape from construction paper—something like a rounded oval with a snout. Glue it to the top of the vertical line of the number 4. Add a googly eye or draw one on.

Create Dino Spikes

Cut small triangles from construction paper. These will be the dinosaur’s spikes or plates. Kids can glue them along the top of the number 4—starting from the head and going down the diagonal line.

Give Your Dino Legs and a Tail

Cut little rectangular legs and a long tail. Glue the legs to the bottom points of the number 4. Glue the tail to the back end of the diagonal line so it sticks out like a dinosaur tail.

Add Details

Let children:

• Draw scales

• Add spots

• Give the dino a smile

• Add grass or a volcano in the background

5 – Five-Leg Starfish

A number 5 can easily become a starfish. After decorating the number, encourage the kids to draw or glue on five arms. You can even add googly eyes to bring it to life.

6 – Number 6 Snake

Materials Needed

• Green construction paper

• Brown construction paper (for the head)

• Yellow construction paper (for stripes)

• A small piece of red construction paper (for the tongue)

• Scissors (teachers only)

• Glue stick

• Black marker

• Pencil

• Optional: number 6 template

Steps

Prepare the Number 6 Shape

Start by drawing or printing a large number 6 onto green construction paper. Cut out the number so the body of the snake is a thick, curved shape—just like the swirl of a 6.

Add the Yellow Stripes

Cut small, thin yellow rectangles. These will become the snake’s stripes. Let the children glue the stripes along the snake’s body, spacing them out around the curve. This step is great for fine motor practice!

Create the Snake Head

Cut a rounded snake head shape from brown construction paper. Make it slightly wider than the end of the 6 so it overlaps nicely.Glue the head onto the top end of the number 6.

Add a Tongue

Cut a small strip of red construction paper, then snip a tiny “V” at the end to make a forked tongue.Glue it under the snake’s head so it sticks out.

Draw the Face

Use a black marker to draw a simple eye and a smile—just like the cute expression in your photo.

7 – Seven-Color Rainbow

Give kids seven stripes to paint or color, using the colors of the rainbow. Connect it to the number 7 and talk about how a rainbow has seven colors.

8 – Snowman

A number 8 already looks like a snowman! Let children decorate the top circle with eyes and a hat, and the bottom circle with buttons and a scarf.

9 – Balloon With a String

The round top of the number 9 is perfect for a balloon. Kids can color it in, then glue a piece of yarn or ribbon to create the string.

10 – Rocket Blastoff

Use the 1 as the rocket body and the 0 as the window. Add tissue paper flames at the bottom and let the children decorate the rocket for liftoff.

READ: More Space Crafts Kids Love

Number crafts like these are quick, low-prep, and incredibly effective for building number recognition. Whether you need a fast morning activity, a prep-free afternoon project, or a simple craft to reinforce counting, these ideas make learning exciting and memorable for your daycare kids.