Easy, Everyday Math for Your Preschooler

Young children learn best through play. As tempting as it may be to try to give them a head start with academics, laying the foundation for later learning is a better idea for the preschool child. But, it’s not always easy to find the time or the ideas for introducing math concepts to your preschooler. Here are some ideas for incorporating math into your everyday activities and play… 

Many parents instinctively begin counting with their child from the time he or she is a baby. We start by counting fingers and toes and incorporating numbers into our language and play. Finding things and ways to count is a good way to get started with math - stacking and counting books, toys, crackers, anything really will help your child get a strong foundation of what exactly “2” (or any other number) actually means. 

Fractions can be a difficult topic for many school-age children. You can help your child grasp this concept early on by showing them fractions in your everyday life. When you serve a sandwich, cut it into halves or fourths, talking and showing your child while you do it. If he or she is capable, let them use a plastic knife to do the cutting themselves. You can even get creative and say, “Let’s cut this apple into thirds, do you think we can take this one whole apple and cut it into three parts?” Pizza is a great food to use to play with fractions, as is pie, cake or other “wholes” that can be cut up into fractions. 

Measuring is another way to introduce basic math concepts. Include some plastic measuring cups in your child’s bath toys, sandbox, or let them stand at the kitchen sink while you are working and measure water, rice or other staples. You can let them see how many “cups” it takes to fill a bowl or pitcher, or how many “spoons” it takes to fill a cup.