It takes years before babies are ready for formal K12 grades instruction in math. But did you know that parents' family ideas can help children build a foundation of math skills right from birth?
Infants
Listen to music and dance with your babies to set the foundation for math. Music is mathematical--it has a regular rhythm and beat. As you dance with your baby he will feel the beat along with you. Create a pattern, maybe move side-to-side twice and then up-and-down three times. Continue the pattern and make it fit into the music. Just making a point to have beautiful classical music playing in the background of your home or car will make a difference in stimulating your baby’s senses.
Use regular fun family activities to remind yourself to present new concepts to your babies. While changing diapers you can count to ten or sing rhymes such as “One Two Buckle My Shoe.” At bath time count toes and fingers. Sing counting songs such as “Ten Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.” Of course babies cannot understand the concept of numbers yet; you are only introducing them to the sounds and rhythms of numbers at this age.
Show babies examples of more and less. Researchers who study the development of math concepts in infants and toddlers have found that babies understand the difference between more and less, a fundamental early math concept. It's not that babies can add or subtract just yet, but research indicates babies may be born with the ability to understand the difference between, for instance, more yummy food and less yummy food; more toys and less toys - you get the idea!
Toddlers
Sorting objects by shape, color, and size are enjoyable activities for the average child and are great pre-math skills. While cooking nine-bean soup one day, I put the dry beans in a cup for my 3-year old and let him sort them into smaller cups. He initially sorted them by color, but then I showed him that he could also sort by size. Doing laundry and loading/unloading the dishwasher present all kinds of opportunities for sorting into groups.
Even snack time can be a time for building skills. You could make trail mix (mini-marshmallows, M & Ms, chocolate chips, raisins, etc.) and let your toddlers sort and mix the goodies.
Counting and number recognition can be taught simply by playing games in the house and car. Look for numbers when running errands in the car. Store signs, street signs, license plates, and commercial vans are all possibilities. Pick a specific number to search for and yell it out when it is found. Count everything around you: blue cars, trucks, stop-lights. Count the number of people in line in front of you at the bank, the number of socks without mates at laundry time, the number of plates to be set at dinner time, etc. There are almost an infinite number of opportunities to count with your little ones.
Preschool
Look for connect-the-dot and maze books at the grocery store. They are inexpensive, and kids love them. Connecting the dots teaches sequencing. Solving mazes teaches children to look several steps ahead--an important concept in higher mathematics.
Simple blocks and wooden puzzles will help with shape recognition. Don't be afraid to get on the floor with your child and a mess of blocks. As you build together, point out the names of shapes. Search your house for shapes--the round pie pan, the rectangular aquarium, the square computer monitor, etc.
Cooking with little ones offers many opportunities for building math skills. I might say, "I need to divide this bread dough into 2 parts," or "We have to roll this pastry out to nine inches." With preschoolers, I can let them measure out ingredients or help double a recipe.
Give your child lots of time to play. This is more important than anything. Children naturally explore and create. Play gives them opportunities to solve problems and learn about physics, shapes, and building foundations.
Maureen Wittmann is a homeschooling mom of seven children.
Source: Hirsh-Pasek, K. and Golinkoff, R.M. with Eyer, D. (2003) Einstein never used flashcards: How our children really learn and why they need to play more and memorize less. Rodale Publishers.