All too frequently, children enter school already feeling somewhat negative about math. As a parent you can make things different for your child. Talking with your child about math even in these early years can really make a difference.
We know more about math today than we ever have. Studies show that a child’s math skills when he is in kindergarten are a better predictor of academic success than any other skill. As a parent, you can help increase your child’s chances of school success by giving him a head start on math concepts.
Here are some ways you can help you add math to your child’s every day fun.
1. Bake something together
When you bake something with your child, you almost have to use math. If you double a recipe, you have to use math. If you do half a recipe, you need to learn about dividing. When you are asked to use ½ cup or ¼ teaspoon you begin to use fractions. If you want him to learn basic math, ask him to count the chocolate chips before he adds them into the batter. Ask him how many chocolate chips it will take to fill one cup or ½ cup. Then see how accurate he is by counting them together.
2. Measure, count and keep track of scores
Challenge your child by measuring his skills. If you have a stopwatch, let him use it and see if he can learn to count with each second that ticks by. Measure how far he can throw a ball or he can kick it. Show him how you measure distances. Even just counting how many times he can jump can be fun. Write his results down and keep them and see how much he improves with time. Have him guess how far he can throw the ball. Even have him guess how many times he can bounce a ball without missing it.
3. Build something together
LEGOs and other kinds of building toys are great tools for including numbers and spatial thinking. Big or small, any project that involves measuring includes counting, adding and multiplying are worth the time you spend together. You don’t want to begin with multiplying but eventually you will see how it fits in. It doesn’t matter whether you’re making something out of a box or building something more complex, the math part can be fun. Even just measuring how high he builds anything can be fun. It incorporates building, balancing, shaping and measuring all in one project. Be sure to talk about the shape of what he has built just to begin to introduce him to shapes. Again, have him write things down so he can see the improvement he makes each time he tries to build something higher or wider.
4. Mix math into all your activities
When you read with your child, mix in math with the reading. Ask him to bring four books for you to read together. Have him read the even number pages and see how he learns what that means. Have him count the number of pieces of cereal he eats in the morning. Have him count a specific number of dog treats to give your dog; then he can count them out as he gives the dog one piece at a time. Have him pick the largest book in his room for you to read. Have him count for your partner tonight at dinner. When you come across numbers that are written, ask him what number it is. Help him learn to sort by size, shape and color; this is all math. Be sure to use math concepts of more, less, same, over under, big and small. These all prepare him to go further in math.
Be excited about his emerging skills in math. This math skill becomes more important to him as he sees it is important to you. You are the teacher but you also are the one who inspires him. He wants to please you and he can see you like math.
Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. To reach current First Teacher Executive Director Nicole Brewer, email nicole@firstteacher.org or call 360-681-2250.
