Vanishing Digit

Vanishing figure

By using playing cards or flashcards with numbers written on them, you can help your child develop their powers of observation and concentration. Take cards with four or five numbers and arrange them in numerical order; then ask your child to turn his back to you. Remove one card and move the others so that there is no empty space between them. The child must say which number is missing. If he has any difficulties, tell him something like this: This number is after three.

Later you can complicate the game by shuffling the cards; The child must put the numbers in order and find the missing one. With older children you can play this game by laying out five to ten cards. Let your child look at the cards as much as he wants. Then let him close his eyes, and you remove one of them and mix the rest. See how long it takes your child to figure out which card is missing.