Math Is All Around Us!

Here are things to do at home that will reinforce the concepts we are working on in math at school. When applicable, your child can practice writing the numbers too.

• • Ask your child to read prices to you on food items.

  • Let your child count out the silverware, plates, napkins, and set the table.

  • Cook with your son or daughter. Measuring is math, too!

  • Teach your child his/her phone number, address, age, and birthdate.

  • Ask your child to guess the number of any of the following items in your home and then count them together: beds, rooms, doors, pillows, windows, dolls, clocks, shoes, stairs, drawers, chairs, etc.

  • Read the sports section of the newspaper together. Let your child read the scores to you and compare which scores are greater.

  • Play cards! War, Go Fish, and Concentration are good math games.

  • Talk about time! "How long will it take to clean up your room? If you are finished by [5:00], you can watch _____ or play ______, or we will read ______ together." Or, "Can you get this done in 10 minutes? Do you think I can finish vacuuming before you?"

  • Fill up several different sized jars with medium-sized items (i.e., large marshmallows, walnuts, Brazil nuts, small apples, etc.). "Which jar do you think will hold the most?" Or, "How many do you think each jar will hold?" Observe, estimate, count, and compare.

  • Start collections of similar items (i.e., bread tags, buttons, old keys, alphabet cereal, etc.). Sort each collection several different ways.

  • Using flashcards of pictures like animals, make classifications (i.e., this group walks, this group flies, this group swims, this group lives in the desert, this group lives in the jungle, this group lives on a farm, etc.).

Have fun with your child as you try these ideas!