How to Make Montessori Tactile Numbers for $1

Sandpaper letters and numbers are a foundational tool used in the Montessori method, so I created these Montessori tactile numbers for much cheaper than the actual Montessori materials.

The purpose of the sandpaper numbers is to learn early numeracy in a multi-sensory approach. Children learn the shape and formation of numbers by tracing and feeling the number. Accompanying the sense of touch along with seeing the number, hearing the name of the number, and connecting to its meaning, allows for the brain to make connections in multiple ways. Using these Montessori tactile numbers will help your child make connections in their brain through multiple senses.

Read more about sensory play and learning HERE.

Every child has a unique way of learning, so this approach makes learning accessible to many more children.

Montessori materials are known for their beauty and natural materials. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children deserved a beautiful learning environment and many of the Montessori materials take into consideration beauty and quality.

Traditional Montessori materials also come with a hefty price tag. This price tag is not a reasonable expense for many families. So, today I will show you how to make Montessori tactile numbers for only $1 and some household supplies.

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The Materials

Scrubby sponges (I found a multicolor pack at The Dollar Tree)
Cardboard
Box cutter
Hot glue gun

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Step One

First, measure and cut the cardboard into the proper shape and size you would like. I used a measuring tape to make sure the lines were straight and each card was the same size.

step two

Cut the cards using a box cutter or exacto knife. I used another piece of cardboard as a straight edge.

step three

Draw the numbers onto half of the scrubbing pad and then cut out all the numbers. I drew my numbers freehand, but you could also use a number stencil if you don’t feel as confident in your number drawing skills.

I found the scrubbing pads at the Dollar Tree, but you can find something similar HERE.

step four

Next, glue the numbers onto the cardboard rectangles. I used hot glue, but super glue or regular school glue will probably also work. I glued them to the upper part of the cards so that I could have room for dots below.

If you plan on skipping the dots, you could glue them to the middle of the cards.

step five

You could stop here and have simple Montessori tactile numbers or you could add a quantity support visual. I chose to draw dots on the cards because I feel like understanding quantity is often more important than simply knowing the name or how to form a number.

Other ways you could add a visual support include:

Stickers
Drawing different shapes
Glue dots cut out of the scrubber pad
Glue gems
Poke holes for adding pegs

Here are some possible materials you could add to your cards:

Play and learning

When you introduce the Montessori tactile numbers to your toddler, only introduce a few at a time. We did 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, but you could also start with 2 to 3 cards at one time and build up from there.

Follow your child’s interests

Following your child’s interest is going to be very important for their learning and engagement. If your child loves cars then count cards, match cars to the colors of the numbers, line cars up in the quantity that matches the cards, put numbers on cars and then “park” them at the corresponding number.

The same concept can go for any interest of the child. Ruby’s current interest is Sesame Street (you can find the Sesame Street figurines pictured HERE). So, I set her Sesame Street figurines next to the cards and I also added Sesame Street number flashcards as well. Since she had 5 characters, I added 5 number cards.

My intention of this sort of setup was to encourage counting and matching. She did place her characters onto the cards and say “twoooo” (her cute little toddler way of counting). I responded by saying, “Yes, we can count them, these are numbers.” Then I took her finger and helped her trace the number as I said, “This is one…this is two, etc.”

She also matched Elmo with the red number and I added the language to her connection by saying, “Yes, the two is red and Elmo is red. Look, the one is green and Oscar is green.”

themed play

Another way I set up our Montessori tactile number cards for play is with themed counters. This example includes acrylic hearts as counters.

See more simple Valentine’s Day activities for toddler HERE.

I modeled counting and matching by simply putting one heart on the dot of the number one card. Ruby then imitated this by placing a heart on the number two card’s dot.

She also started “counting” by saying “three.” At this stage of development, I do not care that she knows the proper sequence of numbers or that she connects the correct quantity to the corresponding number. I was pleased to know that this simple set up encouraged her to count and that she understood that these were numbers.

This type of play is helping her develop connections that will lay a solid foundation for numeracy as she develops and grows. Supporting her play with language also helps build those connections in her brain.

Do I expect my young toddler to count and recognize all the numbers? No.

Do I expect her to understand counting and quantity? No.

So, why would I make and offer these cards to her at such a young age?

Well, presenting numbers, colors, and quantity through playful experiences helps build a foundation for curiosity and wonder around numbers and mathematical concepts. It supports positive feelings around learning in general.

I want Ruby to be curious and love learning and that is why I approach learning in a fun and engaging way rather than with drill and kill tactics.

Final Thoughts

Montessori materials have been carefully designed to maximize learning in a hands-on way. Unfortunately, many Montessori materials are very pricey and outside of the average family’s budget. I like to find ways to create my own materials with the same concept, but in a much more affordable way.

This is also a great way to gauge your child’s interest in the materials. If there is a high level of interest and you find they are using the DIY Montessori tactile number cards on a regular basis, then you may want to upgrade to a more durable option.

You got this!