Further understanding of all aspects of mathematics stems from a child's ability to count and their familiarity with numbers, according to Michigan's Pre-K Mathematics Curriculum Framework. Counting and numerical skills can be developed by asking children to count a series of objects in front of them or in a book, and by them asking simple questions such as "how many pieces of apple did you eat?" By having preschoolers practice writing and reading numbers, they will learn to recognize numbers as well. Once children are confident with counting and identifying numbers from one to three, they can progress to five, 10 and 20.
Teaching geometry and measurement to pre-K kids teaches them to understand concepts of size, dimension, position and shapes that exist in the physical world around them. Children learn how to recognize shapes and their differences through activities involving drawing or copying, matching, comparing, touching and eating shapes teaches. Preschoolers' understanding of measurements can be developed through activities that introduce them to the concepts of time, weight, height and length. Helping to bake cookies at home by measuring ingredients and using a cookie cutter to make different shapes is just one way parents can help develop their child's abilities in this area of math.
Another important basic math skill for pre-K kids is learning how to sort like items and make comparisons. These skills can be developed through games that involve classifying things according to their color, similarities or differences. Simple tasks kids can do at home to develop these skills include sorting a pile of loose change into quarters, nickels and dimes, matching pairs of socks and arranging cans in the pantry by size and color. Activities in which kids have to identify items or groups of objects that are less, more and the same as each other help develop their ability to make comparisons.
Understanding relationships and patterns lays the foundation for developing abstract problem solving, the ability to make predictions, describe and explain events, as well as musical and artistic skills. Developing these basic math skills is as easy as providing children with paper, sticks, beads, markers and crayons in different colors and shapes that children can use to make their own patterns. In large groups, activities that involve clapping, stomping and jumping or simple instruments such as shakers, bells and tambourines can be used to teach patterns through movement and sound.