Counting Bears Fun: Free Activities, Mats & Games for Kids

Counting bears are one of those simple learning tools that never go out of style. They’re bright, colorful, and irresistible to little hands. And while kids think they’re just playing with a fun toy, parents and teachers know these little bears can be used for a wide variety of activities that build math, sorting, and even problem-solving skills.

If you’ve ever wondered what counting bears are, how to use them, or wanted fun activities and printables to go along with them, you’re in the right place.

What Are Counting Bears Called?

Counting bears go by several names depending on where you find them. Some call them rainbow bears, color bears, teddy bear counters, or sorting bears. Others just say plastic counting bears.

No matter the name, these bear toys are a great addition to your homeschool supplies because they can be used in so many different ways.

What Are Counting Bears?

Counting bears are small, brightly colored, plastic manipulatives that kids can hold, sort, and move around. They usually come in sets with different colors of bears, and sometimes in varying sizes.

They’re most often used for math – counting, addition, subtraction, and number recognition – but they’re also wonderful for fine motor skills, patterning, and even pretend play. You can use a small number of bears for quick activities or pull out the whole tub when you want your child to explore a wide variety of activities.

What Are Counting Bears Used For?

Counting bears might look simple, but they’re powerful tools for hands-on learning. Here are just a few of the different ways children can use them:

• Counting and number recognition – Match bears to numbers on cards or count them one by one into cups. This reinforces the idea of a correct number in a concrete way.
• Sorting by colors or sizes – Make color groups or compare big and small bears.
• Patterns and sequencing – Create ABC patterns with two or three colors, then challenge your child to keep it going.
• Early math practice – Line up five bears, add two more, and ask how many there are now. The visual makes math less abstract.
• Memory games – Place a few bears under cups, mix them around, and have your child find the remaining bears.
• Sensory bins – Toss bears into rice, beans, or water beads for tactile play that combines counting with exploration.

How to Use Counting Bears at Different Ages

Counting bears are a versatile and practical tool that grow with your child, making them perfect for hands-on learning at every stage. Here’s how to get started and make the most of these colorful little bears:

• Toddlers – Let toddlers explore different colors and practice simple sorting. Encourage them to put all the red bears together, all the blue bears together, or line them up in a row. At this stage, it’s all about discovery and sensory play.
• Preschoolers are ready to start matching bears to numbers, counting, and building simple AB or ABC patterns. You can also introduce a small number of bears for more structured activities, helping children recognize that five is always five, whether it’s five red bears or five green ones.
• Kindergarteners can practice basic addition and subtraction using the bears. For example, add or remove a few bears and count the remaining bears together. This makes math hands-on and concrete, reinforcing number sense in a fun way.
• Early Elementary students can stretch their learning with story problems, simple graphing, or beginning multiplication. Use examples like “2 groups of 3 bears” to make abstract concepts tangible. You can also sort bears into color groups or use them for memory games, giving children a variety of ways to practice math while having fun.

13 Fun Counting Bear Activity & Game Ideas

These hands-on games and activities make learning with counting bears playful and engaging. We’ve organized them by age so you can pick what works best for your child’s stage.

Toddlers (1-2 years)

• Bear Color Hunt – Hide a few bears around the room and encourage your toddler to find a specific color. This is a great way to practice color recognition and get a little movement in.
• Bear Line-Up Challenge – Line up a few bears in a row and count them together. You can also move them back and forth, or sort them by different colors, helping your little one practice small number recognition and fine motor coordination.

Preschoolers (3-5 years)

• Bear Sorting Race – Use a small number of bears and see who can sort by color or size the fastest. Sorting into color groups builds fine motor skills and early math awareness.
• Number Match Mats – Print mats numbered 1-10. Have children place the correct number of bears on each mat, reinforcing counting and number recognition.
• ABC Bear Match – Lay out letter cards (A-Z). Give your child a bear for each card and have them place the bear on the card that starts with the same letter color or name.
• Counting Bear Race – Draw a simple track on paper. Each player rolls a die and moves a bear along the track. The first to the finish line wins. This is a playful way to practice counting and number sense.

Kindergarten (5-6 years)

• Addition Bear Pairs – Give simple addition problems, like 2+3, and have kids place the correct number of bears on a mat. Counting the bears reinforces hands-on addition.
• Bear Train Patterns – Use different colored bears to create AB or ABC pattern “trains.” Children continue the sequence, which strengthens pattern recognition and sequencing.
• Bear Store – Pretend the bears are money. Set up a shop with toys or snacks, and price items in bears. Children practice addition and subtraction while buying and selling, making math meaningful and playful.

Early Elementary (1st-3nd grade)

• Graphing Bears – Sort bears by color or size and create a simple bar graph. Discuss which color has more or fewer bears, introducing early data analysis.
• Story Problem Bears – Pose real-life story problems, like “You have 5 red bears and 3 green bears. How many bears do you have in total?” This encourages hands-on problem-solving.
• Multiplication Arrays – Use bears to create small arrays, for example, “3 groups of 4 bears.” Children can visualize multiplication in a concrete, playful way.
• Bear Measurement Adventure – Use a ruler or measuring tape and have kids line up bears to measure them in inches or centimeters. Compare lengths, talk about which group of bears is longer or shorter, and practice basic measurement and comparison skills in a hands-on way.

Print & Go: Free Counting Bear Mats and Worksheets

To make it even easier to bring structure to play, we’ve created free printable counting bear mats and worksheets for you. They’re perfect to use whether you need a quick activity to keep little ones busy while you teach older kids or want a low-prep math center for them.

Unlock More Counting Fun!

These 3 free mats are part of our Counting Bears Mat Pack, designed to help your child practice counting, number recognition, color matching, and early math skills. For more activities, explore the remaining mats in our All-Access Document Library, which features over 1,400 printable resources across various subjects and age levels. It’s a treasure trove of learning materials, all easily searchable to help you find exactly what you need – fast!

Springboard Learning Books, Videos & Sets

Counting bears are versatile learning tools, but sometimes it’s helpful to have a few extra resources to spark ideas and extend play. Here’s a list of books, videos, websites, and even set ideas from Amazon that pair beautifully with these counting bear activities:

• Bear Counts by Karma Wilson – A delightful counting story that reinforces number recognition.
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – Great for teaching colors and matching bears to visual cues.
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Use alongside your bears for retelling stories and imaginative play.
• The Berenstain Bears – Count Their Blessings – A full episode that teaches the importance of gratitude and appreciating what you have.
• The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble at School – Brother Bear faces challenges with math assignments and learns valuable lessons about responsibility and seeking help when needed. Watch here
• Counting Bears Sets – Amazon has a wide variety of colorful bears toys, perfect for counting, sorting, patterns, and hands-on math activities. From small sets for toddlers to larger tubs for preschool and early elementary, you’ll find the right set to make learning fun and engaging!

Keep Exploring: More Counting Bear Activities

If your kids want even more counting activities, then check out this curated list of activities we found across the internet that will give them a wide variety of ways to play, learn, and explore numbers, colors, and patterns.

Counting & Number Practice

• Rainbow Counting Bear Math Pack – A printable pack full of counting exercises for preschool and kindergarten kids.
• Counting Bear Addition Cards – Practice addition with small numbers of bears for hands-on learning.
• Write and Wipe Addition with Counting Bears – Laminate and reuse to make addition practice fun and interactive.
• Counting to Ten with Bears – Reinforce number recognition with simple 1-10 counting activities.

Colors & Sorting Activities

• Rainbow Bear Graph Colors – Teach color recognition and sorting while making simple graphs.
• Rainbow Bears Color Matching Mats – Match bears to the correct colors on the mats for hands-on practice.
• Animal Paw Print Color Matching Game – Spin and match colorful paw prints to your bears for a fun color activity.

Patterns & Sequencing

• Printable Bear Math Patterns for Preschoolers – Create and continue AB or ABC patterns using bears.
• Bear Counter Pattern Strips for Preschoolers – Portable pattern strips for practice on the go.
• Counting Bear Pattern Cards – Practice sequencing and patterns with cute, colorful bear cards.

Letters & Early Literacy

• Rainbow Bears Preschool Letter Cards – Form letters with bears to combine letter recognition with counting.
• Alphabet Match Game – Match the letters with colored bears for early literacy and memory games.
• Rainbow Bear Cards: Size Order – Size Order – Sort different sized bears while learning about size relationships.

Fine Motor & Manipulative Play

• Counting Bear Clip Cards – Use clips or clothespins to practice counting while strengthening fine motor skills.
• Rainbow Bear Color Matching Spinner Game – Spin, match colors, and engage in a fun hands-on game.

In Conclusion

Counting bears may look like simple plastic toys, but they offer endless opportunities for learning. From building number recognition and abc patterns to strengthening a child’s imagination through story play, they’re one of the most versatile tools you can add to your homeschool.

Pair them with free printable counting bear mats to make activities even easier, and keep exploring different ways to play. With a wide variety of activities, these little bears can keep kids engaged, learning, and having fun for years.