TKW Consulting

Math Right From the Start: What Parents Can Do in the First Five Years
By Jan Greenberg, Senior Product Development Associate,
Adapted from Math Right From the Start, 3/27/2008

What do you think of when you hear the word math? Numbers and counting? Adding and subtracting? Something you are good at--or not good at?

Many people think that math is counting and recognizing numbers, but mathematics is much more! It is a way to see how things are the same and different. It is a way to organize information. It is a way to understand quantity (how much), numbers, patterns, space, and shapes. Mathematics provides us with a sense of order, a way to predict outcomes, compare things, and solve problems. Mathematics is everywhere, and it is already a part of every child's world. In fact, research shows that young children are born with an informal understanding of math.

You can see children using math to make sense of the world. Babies learn the difference between adults they know and adults they don't know. A 1-year-old asks for more crackers and cries when someone takes one away. A 2-year-old holds up two fingers to represent his age. A 3-year-old shows her understanding of shapes and space when she turns and stacks blocks to make a tower. A 4-year-old picks out patterns in the bathroom floor tiles. And a 5-year-old loves to tell how tall she is and how she keeps getting taller!

Math is a big part of our lives. When we sort laundry and match socks, we're using math. When we set the table for a meal and make sure each person has the proper utensils, we're using math. When we keep score or time at a basketball or football game, we're using math. And when we use maps to get from one place to another or give a friend directions, we're also using math!

So what should we tell families when they ask how they can help their children learn math skills and concepts?

Let families know that their children use math when they play and when they help do things like put toys away and cook. There are many chances for "math talk" and "math play" with children throughout the day. Families don't need to buy special games or toys. Family members don't even have to be experts to support math learning.

Below are simple strategies for families to try to encourage math learning.

Talk with your child!
Listen to what your child says to you. Use math words to describe what you see, hear, and do and what your child sees, hears, and does. Help her find ways to express her ideas with math words, pictures, and symbols. The more "math talk" your child hears, the better she will be at using math language.

Solve problems together!
Help your child learn that there are many ways to solve a problem and that a problem can have more than one answer. It is important young children learn how to come to an answer, not just to get the right one. Over time and with practice, your child can become a great problem solver!

Ask WHY questions!
Ask your child questions, such as why she put all the little trucks in one box or paired the blue sock with the white one. Listen to her responses. Share your ideas. Give your child lots of chances to explain why she thinks as she does or why she makes a choice between one guess and another. Don't worry if the reasons don't make sense. Children don't always know how they get their answers, but that's okay. It's the thinking process that counts.

Draw and write about math!
Help your child share his ideas about math by using drawings and objects such as blocks, counters, and fingers. Ask questions and make comments and suggestions, such as, "Can you make a drawing...?", "Can you use blocks...?", "Show me what you mean ...", and "Tell me more about how....". Remember that children also love to copy what adults do. Show your child how you use tally marks and maps. Share ads that show how much something costs.