Make Pancake Day Count: Easy Maths Play for Ages 2–5

Pancake Day is the perfect excuse to sprinkle a little maths magic into your day! For children maths should be hands-on, playful and full of talk. Here are 5 simple, Jump Start Maths ideas to turn pancake making into a joyful maths adventure.

1️⃣ Baking Maths: Measure & Notice Numbers

Get little ones involved in measuring ingredients.

• Look at the numbers on the scales or measuring jug.

• Talk about full, empty, half full.

• Count spoonfuls of flour together.

• Notice bigger and smaller amounts.

Try saying:

“We need 2 eggs, let’s count them in… 1… 2!”

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2️⃣ Mixing & Shaking: Counting in Action

Turn mixing into a counting game.

• Count 10 stirs clockwise.

• Count 10 shakes of the batter.

• Try counting slowly, then quickly.

• Count backwards from 5 before you stop.

This builds one-to-one correspondence and rhythm in counting, and burns off some energy too!

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3️⃣ Cooking Time: Timers & Flips

Cooking pancakes is full of time maths.

• Set a timer for 1 minute.

• Count down together: 5…4…3…2…1…

• Count how many pancakes you make.

• Count the flips — can you flip it once? Twice?

Talk about before, after, next, and first. These time words are key mathematical language for little ones.

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4️⃣ Tasty Toppings: Patterns & Counting

Adding toppings is a brilliant way to explore patterns.

• Make a repeating pattern: banana, strawberry, banana, strawberry.

• Try blueberry, banana, blueberry, banana.

• Can your child spot what comes next?

For younger children:

• Count each slice as you place it.

• Match one spoonful of yogurt to one pancake (1-to-1 counting).

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5️⃣ Cardboard Pancake Maths Play

Keep the learning going after snack time!

Cut out cardboard pancake circles and:

• Write numbers on each one.

• Order them from 1–10.

• Hide them and find them in order.

• Stack two pancakes together to make simple totals (2 and 3 makes 5!).

For older children:

• Make simple number bonds to 10.

• Build towers and count the total.

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Keep It Playful

The key at this age is conversation and fun. Follow your child’s lead, model mathematical language, and celebrate effort.

Pancake Day is more than a treat, it’s a chance to stir, flip and sprinkle a little maths confidence too!

Happy counting!

Love Flossie Frog 🐸 🥞✨