Maths toys recommendations for preschooler

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

DS will be 4 in Feb and really likes numbers. Like, his idea of heaven is watching Numberblocks on repeat and I often find him counting for fun. He is good at counting and knows some basic addition, also understands the concept of times tables and can do the 10x table accurately (obviously easy so not claiming he is some kind of genius!).

I am thinking about getting a numbers based toy for Xmas, esp something that would help him with addition. Bit stumped as to where to start though - any suggestions?

Following with interest as my nearly 4yo DD is the same.

Maths baaws orchard games.
Magnetic numbers.

The company Bright Minds has some lovely toys for children this age. When my children were in their pre-school year I bought a big jar of buttons from the early learning centre that could be sorted by shape or by colour or number of holes.

For mathematical development, counting toys are quite one-dimensional and many children this age can count and do basic arithmetic competently, but will benefit from the more abstract thinking that comes from a sorting toy. This is discontinued, but something like this is good:

www.elc.co.uk/shop-by-age/4-and-up-years/Early-Learning-Centre-Play-Buttons/p/541116

The other thing that is great for kids this age is a tape measure, and perhaps a couple of plastic measuring jugs for playing with in the bath (different sizes).

Sorry - one more thing. (This is a topic which has sparked my interest!) Big times tables poster on the back of the loo door. There are patterns which children will notice over years not months and it’s another good way of engaging their brains!

Can’t remember the name exactly but we have a Hape brand monster scale set, with lots of different weighted counters.

Orchard games- the fish game really helped our LO with her counting - then just over 4 we got the orchard bus game to introduce add and minus.

You can buy the number blocks.
Number formation wipe clean books.
Orchard games have some good maths games.

Not quite what you asked for, but:
Tessellating shapes - we had a nice Melissa and Doug set for preschool age.
Magnetic set - where the magnets are in plastic frames. I think they are usually called magnetic tiles.
Dino dice if he is starting to add and subtract

Orchard games and an abacus.

balance scales

Numicon. Double sided counters and ten frames
Look on Nroch Earky Years website for problems to develop the qualities of a
rounded mathematician... not just a rote learner from posters

Cookery book or make one yourself. Nothing like weighing ingredients, counting time to cook, temperature numbers etc.

Cuisinaire rods (spelling?) I absolutely loved them.

My number obsessed DS loves the math link cubes you can buy them On eBay and can be used in lots of different ways but also to make the numberblock numbers. We have enough blocks to make up to 60 so far

We bought our three year old the Numberblocks branded math link cubes (www.<a class="break-all" href="https://amazon.co.uk/Learning-Resources-LSP0949-UK-Numberblocks-Classroom/dp/B08N55DKJ6/ref=asc_df_B08N55DKJ6?linkCode=df0&psc=1%29&hvnetw=o&hvdev=t&hvadid=80608047674948&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvtargid=pla-4584207587818083&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum--chat-4392226-Maths-toys-recommendations-for-preschooler" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk/Learning-Resources-LSP0949-UK-Numberblocks-Classroom/dp/B08N55DKJ6/ref=asc_df_B08N55DKJ6?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80608047674948&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=t&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584207587818083&psc=1) and it was one of the most successful presents we've ever bought him - he plays with them as characters in a sort of small world way but also we play lots of counting games with them, including simple addition and subtraction.

Ooh thanks! I had seen the Numberblocks so might get those plus shapes and poster. He would be so excited to have a poster with multiplication tables on 😁

Not Xmas related, but the numberblocks magazines are excellent. My very similar sounding 4 year old loves them, and they have number blocks on the front as the 'toy'.

The '155 pcs wooden pattern puzzle blocks colourful' (catchy name!) from eBay is great and very reasonable. DCs can free play with it, but it also has picture cards to try and copy.
I'd also start thinking about stuff like Lego (or go for harder sets if you've already got some. DD2 was building the 6+ sets at 4yo). Maths isn't all about numbers and sums, and following Lego instructions is great for spacial reasoning.

These are fun yesbebe.co.uk/596-sumblox/

Numicon at home kit

Abacus from Ikea

A numicon set. I got mine from Waterstones.

[quote Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo]These are fun yesbebe.co.uk/596-sumblox/[/quote]
These are really good, I was going to suggest them too.

Teacher here!!

A game like Sorry is fun but also teaches how to count, to reason with numbers, to move backwards, what you need to get someone put etc.

Children being able to understand the concept of number and play around with numbers really helps.

Games like frustration are good for using a numbers, counting on, counting backwards etc. never underestimate the benefit of simple board games played for fun which are making children reason about number…eg..if I throw a six, I’ll need four more after that to get to where I need to be. It if he throws a five, he’ll beat me.