Engaging your preschooler in learning through developmentally appropriate practices can be rewarding for both of you. The look of joy on their faces as they discover something for the first time or the simple enthusiasm they display when they have their aha moment are rewards in and of themselves. You, as your child’s first teacher, can begin to lay the foundation of early math literacy in fun and engaging ways with items already in your home. Preschoolers are eager to learn, so let’s get counting.
- Count steps as you climb them.
- When fixing snack, have your child help count out raisins, crackers, carrots…
- Play simple board games where your child moves the game piece from one position to the next.
- Let your child count your fingers and toes, it will surely bring a smile.
- Help your child line up toys, such as cars, and then count them together.
- Measuring and pouring are favorite activities of preschoolers, so why not bake some-thing together.
- Ask your child how many chocolate chips it would take to fill a 1/2 cup. Pour, then count.
- Measure your child’s height every month or so, showing how to use a yardstick or tape measure. Mark his or her height on a “growth chart” or mark a door frame. Help your child compare his or her own height to previous months.
- Count how many jumping jacks he or she can do.
- Ask your child how far can you throw a ball. Have them guess, then throw the ball, and them measure the distance.
- While playing with blocks talk about their different shapes. Count how many blocks were used.
- Practice simple addition and subtraction using small toys and blocks.
- Using post-it notes, hide the numbers 1 – 10 and have your child search for the numbers. Have your child name the number as it is found.
- Look for different shapes around the house.
- Cut a few (3–5) pieces of ribbon, yarn or paper in different lengths. Talk about ideas like long and short. With your child, put in order of longest to shortest.
- Point out the different shapes and colors you see during the day. On a walk, you may see a triangle-shaped sign that’s yellow. Inside a store you may see a rectangle-shaped sign that’s red.
- Sing songs that rhyme, repeat, or have numbers in them. Songs reinforce patterns (which is a math skill as well). They also are fun ways to practice language and foster social skills like cooperation.
- Gather together a basket of small toys, shells, pebbles or buttons. Count them with your child. Sort them based on size, color, or what they do (i.e., all the cars in one pile, all the animals in another).