| It is essential for their success in school that children | | | | them trace the number. - This activity works well for |
| are exposed to the world of math early on in their | | | | the kinesthetic learners. |
| academic years. | | | | Math Shapes |
| By the time they enter kindergarten children must be | | | | 1. Body Shapes Alone - Use different body parts to |
| familiar with concepts such as patterning, shapes, | | | | draw shapes in the air. Another way you can use your |
| number recognition and measurements. Use these | | | | body is by transforming yourself into a shape. This |
| simple math games for kids to develop your child's | | | | activity is beneficial for both the kinesthetic learners |
| analytical way of thinking. | | | | and the intrapersonal child. |
| While compiling the list of activities below, I used | | | | 2. Body Shapes Together- Use the same activity as |
| Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Here | | | | above but this time partner up the children. - This is a |
| are some suggestions of easy math games you can | | | | good activity for the interpersonal child. |
| play almost anywhere and anytime. | | | | 3. Shape Match Up - Put out various sizes and shapes |
| Math Patterns | | | | of pots and containers and see if your child can match |
| 1. Movement - Use your body to create a pattern. | | | | them up.This activity works well for the kinesthetic |
| Hands up and hands down, up and down. Clap clap, | | | | learners. |
| snap. Clap, Clap, snap. - This is a great activity for | | | | 4.What Shape am I - Get your child to think 'outside |
| kinesthetic learners | | | | the box' by looking at objects from different angles. A |
| 2. Beads - Use beads to make a patterned necklace | | | | water bottle from the front is rectangular but from the |
| or bracelet. - This is a good fine motor activity | | | | bottom looks like a circle. |
| 3. Pattern Detective - Go on a pattern hunt and look | | | | Preschool Math - Measurements |
| for patterns around the house. Do the curtains have a | | | | 1. Length - Compare different objects around the |
| pattern? How about your bedspread? - This activity | | | | house. Which is taller, which is shorter? How about at |
| works well with the visual learner. | | | | the grocery store? Which bottle of ketchup is taller? |
| 4. Words - You can play with words and create word | | | | 2.Weight- Let your child be a human scale. Ask them |
| patterns. Go, go, stay. Go, go, stay. - That's right you | | | | to hold one item in each hand. Which is heavier? Is the |
| guessed it, this activity is great for the linguistic child. | | | | larger item always the heavier one?? For example, |
| Comparing Numbers | | | | compare a roll of paper towels to a full water bottle, or |
| 1. Card Games - Play simple card games such as War | | | | a bag full of pennies to a large bag of socks. |
| and Uno to reinforce your child's number recognition. | | | | 3. Volume - Compare drinking glasses to one another. |
| This is a great activity for the visual learner. | | | | Which one holds more liquid? The tall one or the short |
| 2. Calendar - Place a large calendar on the fridge at | | | | one? Get your child to predict. |
| your child's eye level. Begin each day by reading the | | | | 4.Count Down- Make a chart as an easy way to |
| calendar. "What day is it today?" Review words such | | | | measure time and introduce your child to concepts |
| as: Today, tomorrow, yesterday, before and after. - | | | | such as weeks and months. How many days until we |
| This is a good activity for the linguistic child. | | | | go on vacation? |
| 3. Numbers in the kitchen - When you are cooking or | | | | The key to any preschool ideas is making any activity |
| baking with your child, bring to their attention the | | | | meaningful and memorable to the child. By using |
| numbers in the cook book, measuring cups and on | | | | examples taken from the world of the child and |
| food item boxes- This activity helps reinforce the | | | | showing him/her the importance of math in our |
| importance of math in the world. | | | | everyday lives you are able to establish your child's |
| 4.Number Play dough- Write a number on a place mat | | | | love and appreciation for math. |
| using tape. Give your child some play dough and let | | | | |