Car Dot to Dot

Connecting takes about five to eight minutes. After that, children can color the body, add windows and draw a road. Turn on the answer key to check the finished car, or use 5 versions so each child gets a different car. A transport theme gets a fleet of cars on a bulletin board. Practice online lets a child connect dots by finger on a tablet. Ask what kind of car it is and where it is going while they color.

Sixteen dots takes counting into the mid teens, and the wheels curve while the body is straight, so a child switches line types. Children sometimes confuse 15 and 16 or skip a wheel dot. It sits between the tree and the heart in length, so it is a sensible midpoint. Wheels are a nice place to slow down and check the count, since the dots bunch up around each circle.

Normal has 16 dots and fits kindergarten. More adds dots for a stronger counter. Keep Count by on 1s to begin. Switch to 2s for a first grader to see the car numbered by twos. Try 10s with a child counting tens. New version tilts the car.

What count does the car page reach at normal?

The normal setting has 16 dots. More adds extra dots for a smoother outline. Sixteen suits a kindergartner who counts well into the teens, and More is there when that gets easy.

Does the car work for a vehicle theme?

Yes. Color a few in different colors and add a road on a wall display. Each page shifts slightly, so a group of cars look different.

Why does my child skip a wheel dot?

The wheel dots sit close together and are easy to overlook. Have the child say each number and point to it before drawing. A finger on the last dot helps.