As the nursery rhyme goes, "One, two, buckle my shoe!" Even though your kids’ shoes probably have laces or hook-and-loop straps, that doesn't change the fact that a catchy rhyme such as this helps them learn to count. That's why the teachers at Honolulu's Seagull Schools use rhymes and other everyday activities in their preschool curriculum to help teach young children their numbers.

The fun's not just for young kids. There are many things that parents can do at home to reinforce basic math concepts. From board games to television shows, check out these fun math-related activities courtesy of MetroParent for Southeast Michigan:

• Check Out Some Math-Infused TV Shows: More than just a substitute for an adult teaching a math lesson, quality children's TV programming offers whimsical characters who use math organically to solve a problem. Some favorites include Peg + Cat on PBS, Schoolhouse Rock! (the whole series is on YouTube!), and Team Umizoomi on Nickelodeon.
• Surf's Up With Online Math Games: Like sneaking healthy vegetables into a delicious dessert, math websites give kids the screen time they crave while they get valuable practice time with multiplication and more.
• There's a Math App For That: Put your smartphones and apps to good use by downloading a few educational apps for your kids. Perfect for when your little one (or not-so-little one) is getting impatient, math apps offer games, videos, and more that will get your kiddo excited to learn. There are tons of great apps out there for all ages, including Sesame Street's Count TV, Kids Numbers And Math, Freefall Money, and Slice It!
• Gather 'Round The Tabletop Games: Board games and other tabletop games are a great low-tech choice for infusing math into your child's life. Any board game that uses dice will give young kids experience counting, and some games, such as Connect Four, teach kids how to strategize while strengthening spatial reasoning, a key skill for geometry. Check out Monopoly to reinforce basic economics principles, and Yahtzee and Rummikub for good old-fashioned math-inspired fun.

These fun activities are sure to stimulate your child's math enthusiasm, much like the enriching math curriculum at Seagull Schools. As one of Hawaii's largest childcare providers, they offer high quality preschool learning programs to children of all backgrounds. Visit them online for more information, or call (808) 533-0004 to arrange for a visit to one of their many facilities.