Your preschool child will need to use math and numbers throughout their entire life. Providing them with a solid foundation for these skills now will not only help them do better in school, but it'll also help prepare them for the challenges they’ll face in everyday life, both as a child and as an adult. To help set your child on a path for success, work some simple, fun math activities into your daily routine.

How to Teach Math & Number Skills to Your Preschool Child

1. Count Everyday Objects

Counting is the first type of math your child will learn. The more comfortable they are with this skill, the easier it will be to move on to addition, subtraction, and beyond. Encouraging them to count objects around them — such as steps, books, snacks, and people — will help them practice. It'll also show them that numbers and math are everywhere around them.

2. Ask for Help in the Kitchen

When you cook dinner or bake, ask your child to hand you certain objects. For example, you might need two carrots for a salad or three eggs for an omelet.

Even if your child is too young to grasp fractions, you can still introduce them to the idea that parts make up a whole by showing them how to measure ingredients. You can also explain how to double or halve a recipe. As a bonus, incorporating math into meal preparation helps your child associate math with positive (and tasty) experiences.

3. Read Them Math Stories

You don't have to find stories that are all about addition or subtraction. In addition to books that encourage children to count objects, you can even incorporate math questions into everyday stories. Ask them how many piggies there are and how many are left after the wolf has come. Ask them how many beds Goldilocks tried. There are opportunities to incorporate a bit of math into any story.

To help your preschool child continue building their math skills, enroll them at A Brighter Rainbow Learning Center in Billerica, MA. Serving Middlesex County since 2003, these child care professionals focus on providing a nurturing environment for infants and preschool children, giving them chances to learn, grow, explore, and develop. To ask about availability, call (978) 670-9222 or visit their website.