Math can feel intimidating to some kids. They see rows of numbers and symbols -- and promptly lose interest. So how can you help make sure that doesn't happen to your preschooler?
Try presenting math concepts in ways that matter to her, such as figuring out how she and two friends can equally divide six cookies among themselves, says Art Baroody, PhD, professor of early-childhood and elementary-mathematics education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "Everyday situations are golden learning opportunities," he explains. "They help kids see how mathematics is used in real life."
Fractions. Pizza night is a perfect time to introduce fractions. Ask, "What happens when I divide the pizza equally down the middle? We get two pieces that are the same size -- that's half."
Sorting. Karen Marriott, of Boise, Idaho, does "M&M Math" with her daughter. "We open a bag, sort the colors, and line them up like a graph," she says.
Counting. "Even something concrete like 'two' can be difficult for young children to understand," says Dr. Baroody. "They have to learn that 'two' can apply to very different-looking pairs, such as twin babies or two cookies." To help your child grasp the concept, ask him to pick out two crackers and two cheese squares for his snack.
Classifying. Talk about the food groups; then help your child figure out how many servings he's had of each.
Measuring. Get your child her own child-safe measuring tape. Jeremy Clifford, of Watertown, Connecticut, lets his 4-year-old son pitch in with a ruler or measuring tape when he's doing household projects. "I also let him measure his baby sister the other day, and he loved doing that," Clifford says.
Shapes. When you're folding the laundry, let your child hunt through the socks to find pairs.
Adding and subtracting. When you set the table at dinnertime, ask her how many sets of utensils you'll need. Say, "How many plates should I take out for you and me and Daddy?" Or ask questions like, "How many fish are we feeding? If we had three more fish, how many would we have? What if two swam away?"
To encourage a love of math, it's important to let your child see connections on her own. Here's how to make sure you don't do too much work for her.