Children learn mathematical concepts long before they begin kindergarten and you can help them with a variety of toddler learning activities. They can’t always articulate them, but they have a basic knowledge of them nonetheless. Toddlers, for example, often sort objects as a form of play. They can understand that one pile of blocks has more than another, or that mommy is big and they are small, even before they can say the words. Older children can grasp the ideas of size, weight, number and order.
Baby Teaching Begins With Words
On a regular basis, use terms like empty and full, big and small, light and heavy, tall and short, first and last, more and less, all or none. Also talk about groups, sets, and the names of various coins.
Toddler Learning: Count by Rote
Begin early in teaching counting by rote (using numbers without understanding their value). Sing counting songs, do finger plays, or count objects around your house just for fun. This will help your child learn the name and sequence of numbers.
Family Ideas to Teach Meaningful Counting
Understanding, for example, that the number two corresponds to two objects, begin with small sets of two and three objects, and work your way up to larger numbers. In the beginning, have the child touch each object as it is counted. Later they will be able to count alone. Try putting clothespins into a large jar, counting as you drop them in, count plates as you set the table, or toys that you are putting away in the toy box.
Introduce Rational Counting for Developmental Learning
But realize, however, that when you stop counting a given number of objects, that number represents the amount of items in a set. Place objects in a line, and have the child touch and count each one. Then add another object to the row and have them count again.
Use Stories and Preschool Math Activities to Add and Subtract Items in a Given Set
Use simple stories to introduce word problems. For example, "A mother bunny and her baby were eating carrots in a garden. How many bunnies are there? Soon another bunny came to join them. How many bunnies are eating carrots now?"
Preschool Ideas for Demonstrating How to Classify Objects
Have your child take things that are alike in all ways except for one and put them into groups. For example, have your child sort through the box of crayons and put the red ones into one pile, and the green ones into another one.
Compare Objects During Toddler's Activities
Have your child tell which things are bigger, smaller, darker, lighter, softer, louder etc. Use common objects like two pairs of shoes of differing size, or three blocks, one small, one medium, and one large. Show the order of objects. Start with two things, and gradually increase the number. Order by size, weight, nearness, farness, etc.
Try to Model Estimating to Promote Toddler Learning
Put ten buttons in a jar, and ask your child to guess how many there are. At the grocery store, ask your child to predict how much the bag of onions weighs before you place it on the scale.
Teach Patterning and Sequencing with Family Home Activities
Get some large plastic beads in various colors. Have your child string the beads in various ways--first all the red beads, followed by all the blue ones, or one green bead, two pink beads, one green bead, two pink ones etc.
Preschool Ideas for Practicing Measuring
Let your child help you bake, pour a capful of bubble bath into the tub, or measure small objects with a ruler.
Help Your Child Recognize and Write Numbers with Preschool Projects
Cut out numbers made of felt or construction paper, and let him make number pictures. Have him play bingo. Have him trace and write the numbers and illustrate them by drawing the correct number of objects. Make or buy number flashcards.
Get Some Good Toddlers' Books
These books should teach counting, measuring, and simple arithmetic. Here are a few that you might find useful:
"Anno's Counting Book" by Mitsumasa Anno, Harpercollins Juvenile Books, 1992
Every page features a rural scene undergoing changes through the seasons and years. The book demonstrates counting, groups and sets, one-to-one correspondence, and observing changes over time.
"How Many Bugs in a Box?" by David A. Carter, Little Simon, 1988
A cardboard lift-the-flap book with universal appeal The box and bugs are different on each page. An excellent book for counting sets to 10 and for teaching color, size, and shape.
"Domino Addition" by Lynette Long, Charlesbridge Publishing, 1996
Uses dominos to practice counting and adding the number of dots. Numbers 1 through 12 are included.
"Inch by Inch" by Leo Lionni, Scott Foresman, 1995
Introduces the concept of measuring using an inchworm who measures for birds.
Ms. Zundel is a freelance writer, a book author and mother. She specializes in writing educational and family oriented articles.