3 easy steps to help young children connect with numbers

As parents we need to ensure our young children have plenty of opportunities to explore numbers in meaningful ways, both at home as well as in an educational setting. Embedding numeracy early on sets children up for long-term success in maths.

Non-profit organisations, Teach Your Monster, recently commissioned a survey which revealed that 72% of parents think that maths is the most important subject for their child to be good at, yet 40% of parents find maths intimidating.

The good news is that there are some very simple, stress-free and dare I say, fun activities that all parents can engage with daily to help our children grasp the fundamentals of numbers. Your child will enjoy them so much that they won’t even think of them as ‘doing maths’!

TopTip!

Try to include your child's favourite things in the activities - toys, snacks, books, items of clothing and so on.

Numbers in action: Top tips

Here are some tips for bringing maths into your next visit to the park:

Size (big, medium, small)
Got a picnic with you? Who has the biggest sandwich?

Height (high, low, short, tall)
Point out the tallest and shortest trees.

Weight (heavy, light)
Grab a handful of stones – which one is heavier?

Speed (fast, slow)
Spot any birds? Which is flying the fastest?

Distance (near, far)
Look for people walking their dogs. Which dog is furthest away?

Order (first, second, third)
Name your top three activities to do in the park.

Here is a three-step plan for fostering a love of numbers:

1. TALK ABOUT NUMBERS

Numbers are everywhere, which means you can build all kinds of conversations around them. For instance, a trip to the local park sets the scene to talk about how long it will take to get there, if there are more swings or slides, or how many trees your child can spot. These types of questions will show your child that numbers are a vital tool for understanding the world.

2. TOUCH NUMBERS

Maths should be tactile. At meal times, get children to count the number of cutlery items as they help you set the table, or estimate how many pieces of sliced carrot they have on their plate. These types of questions will build their number sense in a hands-on way.

3. PLAY WITH NUMBERS

Encourage your child to explore numbers through play. From board games, such as Junior Monopoly to using LEGO® blocks to arrange constructions in height order, to more imaginative games like ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf?’, your child can secure the basics in maths in a way that is fun.

To support independent play, try the free online game, Teach Your Monster Number Skills, which is designed for children aged 3+ of all abilities. Set in a mathematical theme park, it’s packed full of mini games that provides kids with an exciting way to practice their number skills.

The 3 steps are simple, but when applied consistently they help children (and parents!) develop a positive relationship with numbers.

JunaidMubeenisa mathematician turned educator,author of MathematicalIntelligence: What we have that machines don’t, Countdown series winner,and expert advisor to non-profit children’s online game,TeachYourMonster NumberSkills