Preschool Mathematics

-- End Ad Box --->warn children about what's too hot to touch or eat!
My preschooler can count twice as high as your• Managing money -- Children can start knowing
preschooler -- but does that mean she reallyabout money even before elementary tutoring. You
understands number concepts? In truth, she hascan start letting your child touch, count, save, sort, and
memorized a sequence of words. Although childrenspend money. What better way to teach children
can't learn math unless they know how to count,about the value of money than by taking them
counting is only one aspect of math.shopping and showing them how much they must pay
Children begin to count on their own as they grow, andfor items -- and how much they will save with
they learn from everyday experiences with length,coupons!
quantity, time, temperature, money, and more. Through• Around the house -- Household repairs offer
Preschool program, children expand their truechildren excellent opportunities to practice math skills.
understanding of math. Adults should recognize thatLet children watch as you measure a door frame, or
games such as sorting and putting objects in sequencehang a picture in the center of a wall. Children can help
are actually early experiments in math, even if theyyou make a list of items you will need to complete a
don't look much like geometry!project, including the number of tools. Everyday
Here are some everyday opportunities for children toactivities like setting the timer on the VCR or setting
begin thinking about numbers:the dinner table are opportunities for children to count
• All about me - Teach children their own addressand work with numbers.
and phone number as well as their age. Also, record• Play -- Children may also race against the clock or
their height — in centimeters and metres. Puttingmeasure the distance they can hit or throw a ball. Help
a child on a scale represents an opportunity tochildren make neighborhood activities and sports more
compare pounds and Kg, and heavy versus light.than just good exercise.
Children can also learn what size clothes they wear,When children pretend, they often create lifelike
and be able to judge what will fit and whatsituations in which they may check a bus schedule, or
won’t.gauge how much gas is needed for a long car trip.
• Cooking -- Adults pour, measure, divide, estimate• Travelling -- Even a short car trip offers children
time, and read labels every time they prepare a meal.experiences with math. Ask children to identify the
Why not include young children in on the activities?speed limit on a passing sign. Estimate the number of
Before he can pour pancake batter or read recipes, aminutes it takes to get to a relative's house.
child can stir with a wooden spoon in a plastic bowl.Remember games you played in the back seat of the
Show a child how you follow a recipe step by step,car, like counting yellow school buses and adding up
and how you set the oven temperature. Remember tothe numbers on license plates.