Preschool Math Activities
Preschool math activities and numeracy involves learning about numbers, counting and quantity.
“There’s a lot more to preschool math than numbers and sums; its an important language which helps us describe, explore and explain the world we live in….You don’t have to be a mathematician to help your child learn maths. Just by reading aloud you play a vital role in their literacy development and similarly, you will play an important part in developing their understanding of mathematics.”1
Creating numbers with modelling clay
Daily events in life involve arithmetic, so share these with your child so that he develops an awareness of numbers and a need to know about arithmetic. Discussing concepts like bigger and smaller, more and less, taller and shorter is an example of preschool math activities in everyday life experience. Children develop through three modes of thinking about numbers:
Since young children are only able to use the manipulative mode, preschool math activities must use concrete objects to teach numeracy awareness. “Failure to do this is probably the single cause of children’s arithmetic difficulties. It is why people grow up with Arithmetic Anxiety. ”2 So, first show your child a certain number of objects, say three spoons, then introduce the number symbol, 3, that represents that amount of objects. Don’t do it the other way around! There is a plethora of preschool maths activities in Maths text books that begin at the mental image stage i.e. using pictures of real objects and number symbols. Only YOU can give your child the opportunity to repeatedly learn in the manipulative mode until she is ready for the next mode. Of her own accord, your child will let you know when she no longer needs real objects to count and can use mental images instead. You should repeat preschool math activities often, as you go about your daily tasks, so that numbers and the related concepts will become a part of your child’s everyday experience. As Ruth Beechick warns: “just don’t push him to work problems in written symbols. Most arithmetic should be mental. It happens in conversation, not in written assignments.”4 (Ruth Beechick, The Three R’s)
ABC Fun & 1-2-3ABC Fun & 1-2-3 is a preschool curriculum that was written with this approach in mind. Each week, there are suggestions of preschool math activities that you and your child can do to enable him to experience numbers, counting and other mathematical concepts in a concrete way. ABC Fun & 1-2-3 is a no-pressure programme that helps you to enjoy the time you spend with your children, while stimulating them to learn at the same time. These are snippets of a letter from a happy customer.
I have recently purchased ABC Fun & 1-2-3 from Shirley, which comes with my highest recommendation! I taught for 2 years, and thought that homeschooling meant that everything had to be perfect... ...what I love about Shirley's programme is that she gives an outline for the week, providing structure, which I need, and the activities are great and most of the stuff you will have in your home, and it is flexible." (Eloise, mom to two preschoolers)
More Preschool Math ActivitiesTelling the Time Preschool Math Activities for Mathematical Development Printable Ladybug Math Activities Toys and Games for Preschool Math ActivitiesThe following is a list of useful toys and games to use for preschool math activities. Many of these are included as suggested activities in the preschool manual, ABC Fun & 1-2-3. Other preschool math activities are described in the free preschool activity e-zine, The Whole Child (Subscribe below) Click here for other Recommended Toys and Games by age group
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In just a few minutes, doing one easy activity a day, you can have fun and interact your children in a way that will stimulate their all-round growth and development.
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1. Adapted from If I Were bigger Than Anyone and Other Poems, Maths Together, Walker books, 1999
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