Math at Home

Listed below are ideas on how to incorporate math into your child's daily life. Hopefully the activities act as a springboard and inspiration; adapt and extend as you sit fit. Engage with the mathematics involved and provide opportunities for your child to persevere, problem-solve, and communicate- let these be the end-goal rather than getting the "right" answer.

Counting

Counting is more than just reciting the numbers in the right sequence. Do not underestimate this seemingly simple task for it provides the very foundation of mathematics. Here are some suggestions for developing a sense of quantity.

Count! Find opportunities to count: count the number of spoons in your kitchen drawer, the number of balloons in a picture book, the number of bananas in your fruit bowl, the number of windows in your house, the number of cars stopped at a traffic light, the number of ball bounces you or your child can dribble, the number of skips you or your child can skip on a jump rope, the number of steps going up or down a staircase.

Count backwards as well as forwards. Practice counting both backwards as well as forwards. Being fluid in counting backwards sets the foundation for subtraction.

Do include “0” when counting. Children will often use the term “blast-off!” when counting backwards; instead of this term, include the number “0” when counting forwards or backwards.

Skip Count. Count by 2s when putting away socks or shoes. By 5s and 10s when counting toes and fingers.

Estimate. Before setting out to count any quantity, ask your child to make an estimate. This will develop a sense of quantity and help them become more comfortable with the idea of estimating. Estimating is simply a good guess and the goal is not to get the “right” answer.

Kitchen

The kitchen provides a range of mathematical opportunities; many cooking experiences can plant the seeds for, or lend itself to, conversations about division, conversions, and fractions. Here are some suggestions:

• Setting the oven temperature
• Setting the cooking timer
• Counting down with the microwave time
• Reading the ingredient list from a recipe
• Looking at the ratios between recipe ingredients
• Measuring/weighing ingredients
• Comparing/studying different units of measurement (dry vs. wet ingredients)
• Dividing portions
• Finding an appropriate sized serving dish to hold the meal
• Finding an appropriate sized container to hold the leftovers

Around the House

Here are some more mathematical opportunities that may be found at home:

• Using a timing device to see how long it takes to get dressed, eat breakfast, play a game…
• Reading the clock (digital or analog) for what time to leave for school or an activity
• Use the calendar to mark special days (birthdays, holidays, family events)
• Mark the calendar for which days your child has P.E., art, music, or library
• Find opportunities to estimate- the time it will take to fill the bathtub, the number of apples in a bowl, the distance between the kitchen stove and the refrigerator
• Enter the digits for a phone call, a T.V. channel, the floor in an elevator, on a calculator
• Go on a scavenger hunt: hunt for something that matches a certain shape, size, color, weight. Combine the attributes to make it more challenging. For example, “ Go find something that is blue, a sphere, and heavier than your backpack.”

On the Road

A car ride can be a fun place for mathematical engagement and wonderings. Here are some suggestions to try out with your child:

• Read the numbers on license plates
• Figure out how long the red light will last
• Figure out how long the journey will last (in time and/or distance)
• Figure out if the ride will get you to your destination on time. If not, how late will you be?
• Study the different geometric shapes for road signs. Why are the road signs different in colors, shapes and sizes?

Shopping

A fairly big difference in the way we shop now, as compared to a couple of decades ago, is the increased use of credit cards, debit cards, and online shopping. Many simply use apps on the phone to make purchases! The number of interactions children witness that actually involves the real exchange of money has drastically reduced over the years. When you are out shopping next, or running an errand, consider using cash and involve your child in the money exchange- especially if it’s a simple purchase for a cup of coffee or a bagel. Here are some more suggestions to help bridge a math connection between home and school:

• Find out the price of a particular item
• Estimate the total when grocery shopping
• Figure out what bills or coins might be needed
• Figure out if there will be any change and if so, about how much
• Study the different sized packages items are sold- sets of 6, 8, 10?

Comparing

Look for opportunities to compare attributes between two objects; how are they similar and what makes them different? Here are some suggestions of attributes to compare:

Textures (rough, smooth)

Distance (near, far)

Weight (light, heavy)

Speed (fast, slow)

Size (large, small)