Measurement Practice
Whenever you’re out and about, look for items that your child can easily compare based on quantities or measurements. For example, at a shoe store, you might compare the length of a size 5 shoe with a size 8. At the grocery store, you might compare half-gallon jugs of milk with whole gallons. Ask your child to guess how many half-gallons it takes to make a whole gallon and help him reach the correct answer (two half-gallons). Or you might compare quantities, such as 6-packs of soda versus 12-packs. Even if your child isn’t counting very high, he can tell you that an ear of corn has many more kernels than a shell has peas…or that a watermelon is much larger than a tomato! While in the produce aisle, invite your child to help you weigh any produce you are purchasing and compare the results.
Money Practice
Children love to stack and sort coins—and they develop valuable money skills as they play! First, gather all of your loose change and place it in a pile. Encourage your child to sort the money by type of coin. As your child sorts the coins, discuss the value of each type of coin. Ask your child how many of each type of coin she has. Show your child that it’s easy to count up coins if you stack them in piles of 2 or 5.
Extension Ideas
When you shop, show your child where to find the price of items on the shelves. Have him read the amounts out loud. Explain that some items are more expensive than others. Next, point out two prices and ask him which item costs more. Repeat this as you continue to shop. At the checkout, have him read the total out loud and calculate the correct amount of change.
Extension Ideas
- Have your child sort the pennies by the year printed on the front. Ask your child how many pennies equal a dime.
- If you have a lot of loose change, you can even pick up coin rolls at the bank and let your child pack each roll with coins. How much total money do you have in loose change?
When you shop, show your child where to find the price of items on the shelves. Have him read the amounts out loud. Explain that some items are more expensive than others. Next, point out two prices and ask him which item costs more. Repeat this as you continue to shop. At the checkout, have him read the total out loud and calculate the correct amount of change.
Geometry Practice
Bake your favorite cookies, allowing your child to help measure all of the ingredients. Be sure to use units of measurement and math words, such as “more” and “less.”
Once the dough is finished, make cookies in a variety of different shapes—including triangles, squares, rectangles and more. Be sure to discuss what each shape looks like. How many sides and corners does it have?
When the cookies are done baking, have your child count up the cookies. How many are there of each shape? Which shape has the most? The least? You can even make a graph of your yummy treats.
Once the dough is finished, make cookies in a variety of different shapes—including triangles, squares, rectangles and more. Be sure to discuss what each shape looks like. How many sides and corners does it have?
When the cookies are done baking, have your child count up the cookies. How many are there of each shape? Which shape has the most? The least? You can even make a graph of your yummy treats.
Place Value Practice
Build your child’s overall math skills and number sense with this fun-to-play guessing game. Try a few Guess My Number! Game Riddles to get started. Simply have your child read the clues, and then solve to find the correct number. You can extend the game by creating more riddles for your child to solve. Or, for an extra challenge, encourage your child to try to create some number riddles of her own!
Here are a few examples to get you started:
Clues:
Clues:
Here are a few examples to get you started:
Clues:
- I am greater than 70.
- I am less than 90.
- I am an even number.
- My digits add up to 9.
- What number am I? Answer: 72
Clues:
- I am between 45 and 65.
- My ones digit is greater than my tens digit.
- The sum of my digits is 11.
- I am not 47.
- What number am I? Answer: 56