Everyday Math Equals Fun for Preschoolers

Is your child’s foundation for math strong? How building blocks and teas parties can multiply their skills.

What You Need To Know

Based on their general developmental patterns, preschoolers create a number of mathematical concepts that will become their foundation for the more difficult  mathematics that comes in kindergarten and first grade. Here are some of the early math concepts for preschoolers.

• Writing and saying numbers.
• Use of meaningful counting skills.
• More complex patterning and matching.
• Understanding of order.                                                                              
• Understanding comparing (bigger or smaller), positional (nearer or farther), and sequence words (first or second).
• Comprehension and use of shape words. (circle, square)
• Use of the language of time. (tomorrow, tonight)

How You Can Help

If math isn’t your favorite subject don’t worry cause helping your child do well in the subject isn’t as hard as it seems. Here are a few fun ideas for helping improve math concepts in your preschooler.

• Math Play – Host a tea party which uses math skills. With the help of your child count the place settings as you lay them out. Build a tower and count all the pieces and maybe even group colored blocks.
• Math Shapes – Cut construction paper into shapes. Do a sample for your child of circles, squares, rectangles, diamonds and triangles. Fit them together to make math art. It will help with spatial skills and creativity.
• Measuring Fun – Use a pencil to measure items such as books or a height of a stuffed animal. “My teddy is two pencils tall”.

Cooking is a great way to spend quality time together, measure a few things and hopefully come up with something tasty. Here’s a simple recipe for banana bread. (http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread/)

Try to incorporate math in things your child already does, which should equal nothing but fun for everyone.  

For more on this topic, see the complete article:

http://www.education.com/reference/article/mathematics-concept-preschool-learn/