Math can be a difficult concept for preschoolers. The following are some home activities for preschool math that will give them a better understanding of numbers, what they mean, and analyzing numerical data.
Activity One: Play board games.Board games are an excellent at home preschool math activity because they involve numbers by counting spaces, rolling dice and reading how many dots are on it, etc. This is a great way for kids to get a good grasp on what numbers mean, and what numbers are larger and smaller than other numbers. As they move forward, they see that one is less than two, in a very real way. It is a great way for them to take this abstract concept, and put it into practical use in their own life.
Activity Two: Cooking.Cooking is another great home activity for preschool math because it involves measuring, counting etc. Let your preschooler count out the eggs you are going to use, measure out the other ingredients, etc. This is again, practical application of a somewhat abstract idea. They will understand fractions better when they can see what a whole cup versus a half cup is.
Activity Three: Weighing & measuring themselves.This is a fun activity that allows them to chart their growth, and use numbers to represent something they can see and understand. You can measure them every month and weigh them every month to let them see how their numbers change. Have them create a graph to show the changes.
Activity Four: Identify Shapes.Shapes are a big part of math, so play a game where you sit in a room and try to identify as many shapes as you can from the items in the room. Then, point out where two shapes combine to make another.
Activity Five: Counting.This can be a fun game, and one that you should do all day with your preschooler. Simply ask them to count things that you see. Say, “Count how many forks there are.” Or, “Count the number of cars on the street.” Get them counting everything they see and things you give them. The more they count, the more they understand what numbers mean.
Money is another great way to teach preschoolers math skills. You can have them compare prices with you at the grocery store, or give them money to buy their own goodies, etc. The idea is that the more they work with numbers, the better they understand them and can do math.
Use terms such as above, beneath, level, larger, smaller, and equal, and words such as horizontal, vertical, perpendicular, and parallel, to describe things you see. You might ask your child to bring you the smallest cookie or to find the book beneath the large table in the living room.
Weigh and measure your child and make a chart to record her growth.