How to Teach Basic Math to a 7-Year-Old

Test the knowledge of math the child already has and identify the problem areas. To test his knowledge, give the child exercises from a first or second grade math textbook. Alternatively, utilize online resources to find free, age-appropriate math tests for first- and second-graders from FreeMathTest.com and Rabun County Schools (Georgia). If the child does the exercises of a certain topic well, you do not need to teach him this topic.

Ensure that the child can count forward and backward. Counting is an essential numerical skill. After the child masters counting, teach her to count by twos. For example: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and so on. Then teach her to count by threes and fours. In high school, the child will learn that this sequence of numbers is called an arithmetic sequence, or arithmetic progression. To help the child count at age 7, use concrete objects such as beans or buttons.

Teach the child the difference between a greater and a smaller number. A greater number includes in itself a smaller number plus some additional numbers. For the child to better visualize numbers, show him a pile of four apples and a pile of six apples and ask which pile is bigger. Do similar exercises with other numbers.

Teach the child addition and subtraction. First, teach her to add or subtract a single digit. Again, use concrete objects -- such as apples -- to help the child understand the concept, then teach her to add and subtract single-digit numbers from 1 to 9. If she does well, progress to two-digit numbers from 11 to 19.

Teach the child the difference between odd and even numbers. Essentially, an even number is a whole number that is evenly divisible by 2, or can be divided by 2 without a remainder. All other numbers are odd numbers.