Spindle Box
Inspired by the classic Montessori spindle box. Tap a numbered box to add one spindle at a time, until it holds exactly its own number — box 0 stays empty on purpose.
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How to play Spindle Box
- Tap a numbered box to put one spindle in it.
- Keep going until it holds its own number; it turns green when it’s right.
- Box 0 stays empty: zero means none.
About this game
Made for toddlers (with a grown-up nearby), inspired by the Montessori spindle box — a classic material for connecting a written number with an actual counted quantity, including the idea that zero means none at all. Ten boxes are labelled 0 through 9; tapping a box adds one spindle from the shared pile, and once a box holds exactly its own number it turns green and locks in. Tap a completed box again to empty it back into the pile if you want to start it over — there's no wrong move, just counting. Fill every box correctly and a new round begins.
Questions about the spindle box
What is the Montessori spindle box?
A box with compartments numbered 0 to 9, into which children count spindles, linking each written number to a real quantity.
Why is there a box for zero?
To show that zero means nothing at all, an idea children often find hard.
What if my child adds too many?
Tap a finished box to empty it and start that number again; there’s no wrong move.
What age is it for?
Pre-schoolers learning numbers 0 to 9, usually from about three or four.