At The Gardner School, we understand that part of parenting is always wanting the best for your child. Parents want to make sure their child is developing the knowledge and skills to enjoy and succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Art (S.T.E.A.M.). An early start with engaging math activities for your preschooler paves the way for future success. You can give your child positive experiences with math while building their skills and confidence through play. One simple way to give your child a solid foundation in numbers, shapes, and patterns is by drawing their attention to the way these concepts show up in everyday life and giving them opportunities to practice.
To help, we wanted to offer a few easy preschool math activities that are simple, achievable, and fun for children. Bonus: they fit nicely into your daily routine and require very little preparation from you! Try these fun math-based activities with your preschooler at home this week!
Picture Book Practice
As you read to your child, stop at the end of every page and ask them to notice something about the picture. For example: “How many puppies do you see on this page?” Or “What colors do you see on the playground here?” By drawing awareness to numbers and categories, you are building their vocabulary for engaging with math.
Pattern Play
Your child can copy and create patterns with almost anything! They can string wooden beads on a shoelace, build a tower of Legos, arrange buttons in an ice cube tray, or put counting bears in order. Children might need a few practice rounds where you give them a short example and ask them to try it. But once they get the concept, your child can find satisfaction in repeating a particular pattern.
Snacktime Shapes
It’s amazing how much more preschoolers enjoy their snacks when you add a fun or creative element to them. For example, you could use a small cookie cutter or knife to shape their PB&J or cheese slices into different shapes and turn them into a game. Then you can ask them to “match the round crackers to the round cheese” or “eat all the squares first.”
Chore Champions
You can turn daily playroom clean-up time into a math game to practice their skills! Try asking your child to “Put away FIVE books, then run back to me!” or: “Great job! Next, put away THREE blue blocks!” Breaking the task into specific, achievable steps gives your child the pride of accomplishment while building their counting and sorting skills at the same time.
Energy Outlet
How many times can they hop on one foot? Can they repeat a rhythm that you clap out for them? Can they make a triangle-shaped path in the snow? These are all different ways you can combine numbers, shapes, and patterns with movement to give your preschooler a kinesthetic experience of number fun! Your child’s delight in playing with you will give them plenty of positive associations with math and science.
Purchasing Power
Preschoolers are often interested in exchanging money for goods and services. Sometimes, preschoolers create role play grocery shopping, filling up the “gas” tank on their mobile toys, and other daily tasks they witness on family errands. They may play cashier or customer, switching roles with their siblings or playmates. You can introduce the concept of valuing by using cash to let your child pay for small things you buy as a family. Or, you can use play money to “buy” and “sell” imaginary cookies or cups of lemonade.
The Gardner School Grows Math Skills Daily
Children recognize and enjoy math concepts when they encounter them regularly. Parents don’t need flashcards and worksheets to teach math. Simply invite children to notice how math functions in the real world around them. To learn more about our approach, visit The Gardner School preschool nearest you today.
