It’s important for your toddler to know basic math concepts before they start kindergarten. There are many kids activities that you can do at home that can help them learn more about this subject. Here are a few.

How to Teach Your Toddler About Math

1. Start With Counting

Counting is the first math skill that you should teach your toddler. It’s a focal point of most kindergarten curriculums. Engage them in kids activities, such as counting everyday objects at home, like blocks, buttons, or pennies. Make sure the objects are similar, as asking kids to count both apples and bananas could be confusing at this early stage.

2. Sort Shapes

Teaching your toddler about different shapes is critical to their math skills. Help your child count the sides and ask them what type of shape it is. You can cut these shapes out of paper or cardboard or buy a wooden or plastic set.

3. Teach Them Important Numbers

Numbers have a greater significance in everyday applications, even if they're not related directly to counting. Explain some important uses of numbers like in addresses and telephone numbers. Teach them what number house you are on the block and how it represents the number of homes in your town. You can also teach them your phone number, and try putting it to a song so they can remember it better. 

4. Estimate

Some fun kids activities include asking your child to make quantity estimations. When you have two types of similar items, like fruits or candies in a bowl, ask your child to identify which set has more. This may take practice, but it asks them to count in their head and works on spatial reasoning skills.

5. Play Games

There are lots of games that involve basic math. Go Fish may not require math, but it exposes children to a new way to use numbers. Candy Land, Sorry, or other kids activities that require you to move around a board require counting when moving the correct number of spaces. Chutes and Ladders introduces your toddler to larger numbers, from 1-100.

If you want your child to be well prepared for kindergarten, send them to Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care in Anchorage, AK. Their toddler and preschool programs offer lesson plans catered to your child’s unique learning style and includes diverse kids activities for each student. They offer convenient hours and flexible schedules that make it easy for parents to incorporate drop-offs and pickups into their hectic days. Visit their website to learn more about their toddler and preschool programs or call (907) 274-2040 to schedule a tour or register your child.