Math is everywhere!

We use basic math language all the time, without realizing it. For example, when we separate clothes by color, we’re using the math concepts of sorting and classifying. When we keep score during a game and determine how much our team is ahead or behind (number and operations), or give someone directions to get from one place to another (spatial relationships)—that’s math. We constantly use comparison words (measurement) such as big and little and use patterns to explain the order of daily routines and activities (“We brush our teeth after breakfast”). With our children, we play games and sing songs that use numbers and counting (such as ”One, Two, Buckle My Shoe”).

Will feeds Maya, his 8-month-old daughter. He pauses for a moment and Maya signs “more.” Will laughs. “You want more? Okay, here it comes!” When the bowl is empty, Will says and signs, “All gone. Maya ate her food. All gone.” Maya looks at him and smiles.

Children develop math concepts and skills very early in life. From the moment they are born, babies begin to form ideas about math through everyday experiences and, most important, through interactions with trusted adults. Language—how we talk with infants and toddlers about math ideas like more, empty, and full—matters.

For more of this article about Math Talk with infants and toddlers from NAEYC, click on the link. It gives many more examples of how to talk with your child about math concepts in a very easy but intentional ways.  

Big Ideas are foundational to lifelong mathematical thinking and can guide teaching and learning in the early childhood years. They are organized by topic on the Erikson Institute website. Learning early mathematics means opportunities to play around with and talk about big math ideas.  Key math concepts young children need to explore between the ages of 3 and 6 are explored with information about the concepts that need to be taught and with ideas of how to teach them.  The Big Ideas are: sets, number sense, counting, operations, pattern, measurement, data analysis, spatial relationships and shapes.