Suggested Home Activities for Parents to Do to Reinforce Math Skills for the Very Young

Household Chores

• Encourage math and counting skills with simple household chores. Ask your child to set the table on his own. Encourage him to count out the proper number of plates, forks and cups for each place setting. While making dinner, ask your child to arrange a certain number of cookies on a plate for dessert. When your child cleans up his toys, encourage him to count out loud as he places each toy into the basket. Count seconds out loud as your child makes up his bed to see how fast he can complete the task.

Money Games

• Teach your child money math with a coin jar or piggy bank. Give your child coins to put in the bank and help her count the coins as she adds them. Teach her the denomination of coins and bills. Collect coupons and ask your child to use the coins in her bank to see how much money the coupon will save; for example, a coupon for 25 cents off will save one quarter, or two dimes and a nickel. Let your child give the coupons to the cashier when you go shopping.

Shapes

• Teach your child about simple shapes by using objects around the house. For example, cereal boxes are rectangles and bowls are circles. Find shapes around your home.(ref.1,2) Make math manipulatives for your child to use at home by drawing simple shapes on white card stock. Help your child color the shapes and cut them out using safety stickers. Place a piece of magnetic tape on the back and stick on your refrigerator. Encourage your child to move the shapes together to make pictures, or place the shapes in order based on size. (ref.3)

Ordering and Sorting

• Teach your child measurement and sorting skills in the kitchen. Fill several clear glasses with different amounts of water. To make the activity more exciting, let your child add food coloring to the water. Ask your child to put the glasses in order based upon the amount of water in the glasses. Encourage your child to point to the first, second and last glass

  Teach your child how to sort objects. Pull several boxes or cans from your pantry and ask your child to group them according to color or size. Encourage your child to sort the fruit in the fruit bowl based on type of fruit, color or size.