Math
Math
The math domain is about numbers and relationships. It is not only counting and knowing numbers; but about sorting shapes, patterns, and colors. It uses relationship words like over, under, next to, left/right, more, less, and equal.
Use these kinds of words while you’re doing household chores like laundry and cooking. It is an easy time to work with this area of a child’s growth.
Mathematical Thinking Development Support
Important Skills for School Readiness
- Sorting objects by color, size, and shape
- Identifying and copying simple patterns
- Understanding numbers and relationships
- Counting objects
- Using words to communicate
- Using words to describe an object, the use of an object, position, and order
Mathematical Thinking Development Activities
- Shape Sorters – an activity for 3-4 year olds used to help a child learn about numbers, counting, and problem solving, using foam shapes (rectangle, square, circle, diamond ,triangle, star, heart or oval)
- Bears at the Zoo - an activity for 3-4 year olds used to help a child learn to sort patterns and positional worlds using counting bears (about 20 bears in 4 colors), four containers labeled with the same colors as the bears and the book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury.”
- Shape Detective -an activity for 3-4 year olds used to help a child identify and look for shapes, using a paper bag, foam shapes, and the book “Brown Rabbit’s Shape Book” by Allen Baker.
- Let’s Measure It - an activity for 3-4 year olds used to help a child begin to understand measurement using two plastic containers, plastic measuring spoons, and cups.
- Water Play – an activity for 0-2 year olds used to support a child in exploring their world by using plastic measuring cups and a plastic tub.
Support Ideas
- Talk to your child daily
- Read to your child – choose books that are child-friendly with rhymes, repetition, or numbers in them
- Play games and sing with your child
- Look for patterns everywhere
- Point out numbers and shapes
- Help your child learn their 1, 2, 3′s
- Build with boxes or blocks and point out different sizes
- Use a calendar -try counting down the number of days till your child’s birthday or another special event
- Help your child sort objects
- Follow a recipe and let your child measure and pour ingredients
- Ask your child to guess how many spoonfuls it will take to finish their cereal