Most parents want to give their children a head start in life. One way to do so is by signing them up for early childhood education programs, especially those offering literacy lessons. While math skills aren’t usually a priority at this stage, research suggests that it should be, as it plays a vital role in children's cognitive development. Below are some fun ways you can help your kids strengthen their arithmetic skills.

How to Help Your Children Build Their Math Skills

1. Include Counting & Sorting

Incorporating math in early childhood education includes helping your kid develop number sense, or the ability to count correctly. With your guidance, have them count their toys during playtime or their food during snacktime. Also, let them sort objects based on color, size, or purpose. You can also use a calendar and ask them the number of days left before an occasion.

2. Play With Shapes

While sorting shapes, discuss the names of the figures, the number of sides they have, and their colors. Let kids play with wooden and interlocking blocks so they can more firmly grasp the relationship between different shapes. For example, show your child how two triangles make a parallelogram, and that a circle cannot fill in a corner.

3. Play Games About Spatial Relations

Activities requiring kids to move forward, backward, and side-to-side are essential parts of early childhood education. They’re also enjoyable ways to hone your children's math and geometric skills. Ask your kids if an object is near or far, or sing songs with position-indicating movements. These games can help your kids develop spatial sense and understand prepositions, too.

Give your young ones a head start in life by enrolling them at Great Beginnings in St. Charles or St. Peters, MO. The licensed childcare center provides premium early childhood education, infant care, after-school care, and before-school programs. Their summer camps give kids tons of opportunities to interact with others, explore their interests, and hone their skills. With their licensed instructors, highly trained staff, and well-rounded curriculum, your child is in good hands. For more details on their programs, check out their website. Call their St. Charles center at (636) 724-5048 and their St. Peters center at (636) 447-4212.