Allow your young learners to play, explore, count and create with these birthday cake-themed counting mats. These bright and engaging mats are the perfect way to support early number skills while incorporating fun, hands-on learning into your maths block.

Each mat features a birthday cake with a target number from 1 to 10. Students are invited to roll and shape play dough into candles and place the correct number onto each cake. This interactive approach to number work reinforces one-to-one correspondence, numeral recognition and quantity matching in a playful and meaningful way.

In addition to supporting early maths skills, this resource is also an excellent tool for developing fine motor abilities. The physical action of rolling, pinching, and shaping play dough candles builds strength in the small muscles of the hands and fingers. It also helps students develop bilateral coordination – the ability to use both hands together in a controlled way – which is vital for everyday tasks such as using tools, dressing, and handwriting.

Key Learning Outcomes

• ✅ Practise counting and creating collections from 1 to 10
• ✅ Reinforce number recognition and one-to-one matching
• ✅ Develop fine motor strength and bilateral coordination
• ✅ Build confidence working with numerals and quantities

What’s Included

• 10 birthday cake-themed counting mats (numbers 1–10)
• Full colour and printer-friendly versions included
• Each mat displays a numeral and matching cake graphic

Materials Needed

• Printed mats (laminated or placed in write-and-wipe sleeves)
• Play dough in various colours for candles
• Optional: small sticks or pipe cleaners to use as candles

How to Use

1. Choose a mat showing a number between 1 and 10
2. Students roll play dough to create the matching number of birthday candles
3. Place the candles upright or flat on the cake image
4. Encourage students to count aloud as they place each one
5. Repeat with different mats or numbers as students build fluency

Ideas for Classroom Use

• 💡 Include in your fine motor station or early years maths tubs
• 💡 Use during a birthday or celebration-themed week
• 💡 Incorporate into rotations with other hands-on counting tools
• 💡 Add name cards and have students make candles for their classmates’ birthdays

Top Teacher Tips

• 💛 Store mats in zip-lock bags with small tubs of play dough for grab-and-go access
• 💛 Use scented play dough for extra sensory fun
• 💛 Print smaller versions and have students record numbers by drawing candles instead

This resource is a fun and functional way to bring counting to life while strengthening those all-important fine motor skills. Your students will love making birthday wishes as they build their maths confidence, one candle at a time!