BY DORCA CASSEUS
Last time we discussed the importance of engaging children in learning during the summer months. To avoid summer slide (or more accurately COVID slide), parents can plan fun activities that reinforces skills needed for the upcoming school year.
In the previous article, I shared some ideas to practice letter names and sounds. This time let’s shift a little to math! Of course, I am biased to all things literacy, but math is important as well.
In the early years of elementary school children are developing their number sense. Number sense refers to their understanding of numbers, quantities, and how numbers relate to one another. Strong number sense is why some people can do all sorts of mental math quickly.
Numbers are everywhere. We count our change after paying for an item. We count how many minutes we have before we are considered late. We look at the numbers on the houses as we try to find an address. Numbers are important and it’s important for children to develop an understanding of how numbers work.
You can help your child start developing their number sense now. Here are some ideas for practice with numbers:
· Begin with teaching them the numbers and how to recognize them on sight.
· Practice counting using these catchy tunes:
· Once your child is able to count, you can have them count groups of objects while pointing to each item in the set.
· Play “Roll and Count”. Roll two dice and have your child count the number of black dots.
As always, enjoy the time with your child as you practice counting. Make sure you practice in a relaxed environment with no pressure. Remember to make the learning fun!