Fill It Fast!

Focus: Fluency, number recognition, and focus

This quick-fire ten frame game is perfect for practising number fluency and listening skills. Children love the challenge of showing numbers quickly — it’s a fun way to build speed and confidence with counting.

Equipment you’ll need:

• Ten frame

• Counters or cubes

How to play:

1. Call out a number between 1 and 10.

2. Your child races to show that number on their ten frame as fast as they can.

3. Check together and count to confirm it’s correct.

4. Swap roles, let your child call out numbers for you to make!

Extension idea:

Use two ten frames to go beyond 10, or time how quickly your child can show three numbers in a row. You can also play cooperatively, “How many can we do together in one minute?”

Why it matters:

Fluency, being able to recall and represent numbers quickly, is a key step in early maths development. This game helps children build number confidence, improve concentration, and practise listening and responding to instructions.