Back to: feed the mind home | reading
| maths | writing | listening and talking
 |
A little time spent exploring maths with your child in their
everyday world will make a difference to their progress. |
|
 |
|
Count together in everyday situations, such as when you're:
- preparing meals
- building block towers
- climbing stairs and steps.
Count, count, count together! Count fingers and toes. Count
buttons and zips. Count while you unpack the groceries.
Sing counting songs.
Play simple board games.
Play with dice.
Try easy adding and subtracting of real things, like shoes,
hats, or crayons.
Show and discuss with them the number symbols around them
on:
- letter boxes
- car number plates
- speed signs on roads
- calendars and birthday cards
- the TV remote
- shop windows
- sports clothing.
|
|
 |
|
Maths includes counting, sorting, comparing, ordering, patterning,
matching, classifying, and problem solving.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
You can teach your child about maths everywhere! In the kitchen,
encourage your child to:
- sort the groceries or the cutlery
- help you to measure food during cooking
- set the table
Around the house, help your child to:
- sort clothes
- match socks
- organise nails and screws by size and shape
- sort toys into groups
Talk about your family. Who is the tallest? Who is the shortest?
At the shops, compare the sizes and shapes of things.
In the playground, show your child the meaning of:
- up and down
- inside and outside
- tall and short
- fast and slow
- far and near.
Point out the patterns:
- in zebra crossings
- of leaves
- on quilts
- on wallpaper.
Help your child to draw patterns. Clap out rhythms together.
Dance together. |
|
|
 |
|
|
For instance:
- "Whose turn is it next?"
- "Bring me two onions."
- "Find a bigger shoe."
- "Let's dance in a circle."
Encourage your child to solve problems.
Help them to work things out.
|
If you want to know more about helping your child
with maths, ask the staff at your local early childhood
centre. They will be glad to help.
|
|
|
|
|
