I have noticed how rewarding learning math skills can be to young children, especially when they are learning through play. Here are a few family ideas for toddler games that I have enjoyed playing with my 3½-year-old son over the years. Who knew teaching math could be so easy?
Counting During Family Home Activities
One, two, up we go: Counting the 15 stairs in our home was one of the first number games I ever played with my little boy. A year and a half later, he can almost always count to 15 without any help. The daily repetition of a ritual (that he thought was a game) along with the physical action of moving his body up or down with each number helped him learn the sequence (order) of numbers.
Patriotic counting: Counting the flags you pass while driving or taking a walk is a great way to count something different, and teach respect for our country's flag. There is something awe-inspiring even to a preschooler about a flag flapping in the wind. My little boy loves this game, especially on patriotic holidays.
Uno, dos, tres: Teach your child to count in a foreign language. We practice counting to 10 in Spanish, French and German in our house. This way we can also teach our children about other cultures. Just in case you need a refresher course for Spanish: Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez. In French: un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix. In German: eins, zwei, drei, vier, funf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn.
Ordering Items Can Be Musical Games for Preschoolers
One, two, buckle my shoe: Singing is fun for preschoolers, and research shows that music and math are connected. Singing teaches rhythm, ordering and counting skills. Plus, memorizing songs or poetry teaches preschool children how to put story elements in order.
A Toddler's Game Can Promote Numeral and Shape Recognition
I spy a three, I spy a triangle: Play a number or shape version of I Spy while you are driving in the car or taking a walk. Choose a number or shape for the day. Write that number or draw the shape on a piece of paper. Cheer for your child's success every time he spies the number or shape on a billboard or sign.
Silly number or shape faces: Grab the art supplies and draw a large number on a piece of paper. Help your child give it funny faces, funny hair, a funny hat, etc. Give your silly creation a name like Tinky the Two and hang your artwork on the refrigerator. This activity will also work for shape recognition; just exchange the number for a shape.
Comparing Items is Part of Toddler Learning
Smaller, bigger/green, red: An easy way to practice comparison skills is to let your child make choices between two similar items. Does she want to play with the small ball or the big ball? Does she want the green or the red lollipop? Teaching our children concepts like same and different, equal and unequal is necessary in developing math skills.
Toddler Games Can Teach Matching, Grouping, Numeral Recognition and Counting
Go fish: Card games are great math tools. They teach children to match, count, group and sometimes recognize numerals. Plus, kids love the one-on-one time that comes with a good old-fashioned game of Go Fish.
Which one is missing: Line up a row of matchbox cars or different shaped blocks. Have your child count the objects on your fingers. Then have him close his eyes while you take away some of the objects. After he reopens his eyes have him count the remaining objects while you put down one finger for each object that is left. When you are finished, have him count how many fingers are still up to discover how many objects you took. Then exercise his memory skills; ask him to tell you which objects are missing. This game is a little more complicated and probably works best with children over 3 years old. The game can be varied to teach grouping skills by hiding all the green cars or blue blocks.
One of these things is not like the other: To teach grouping skills, gather a group of similar items such as matchbox cars, wood blocks, Cheerios etc. Throw in one slightly different item: like a train with the matchbox cars, a Lego with the wood blocks, an Apple Jack with Cheerios. Ask your child which item doesn't belong.
Rachelle Hughes is a freelance writer and the mother of two young children in Cedar City, Utah.