Children, without even realising, start developing mathematical skills while they are still toddlers exploring their environment. They are busy naturally sorting and organising. They try their hand at building and drawing different things. These are some maths skills that kids have a natural interest in and their beginning development comes through playing. By the time children are learning the actual mathematical concepts in the first grade, the foundation for success is already set. Therefore, developing math concepts in pre kindergarten kids is important.
In this article, we have covered some points on pre-maths skills that are essential for preschoolers and activities to teach the same of them. Let’s read about them.
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What Are Pre-Maths Skills?
Pre-math concept or pre-maths skills refers to the mathematical concepts or skills that a child builds during their early years, informally. Introducing these skills to children before introducing the actual maths concepts to them is recommended for their better understanding. For example, when introducing maths to kids, we start with making them recognise the numbers when we should teach them the value of these numbers and what they represent.
When we teach these pre-maths skills to kids, it can prove to be extremely beneficial for your child as such skills can later be honed and improved upon to form your little one’s basic mathematical foundation once they start their schooling.
Importance Of Maths Skills For A Preschooler
According to the studies, preschoolers have a great grasping power and, thus, easily understand what is being taught. It is important that a child should be introduced to pre-maths skills as it helps to lay the foundation for problem-solving, logic, and determination in children. These skills have a long-lasting impact on kids and help them to excel later academically.
Basic Mathematical Concepts For Kindergarteners
Let’s take a look at some pre-mathematical concepts for children.
1. Counting
Introduce your child to numbers with counting, writing numerals and number names. Asking kids to count objects can help them understand one-to-one correspondence. Encourage your kid to touch different objects at home and count out loud, and move objects from one place to another while counting.
2. Addition & Subtraction
You might think that it is too early for children to learn to add and subtract. Teach adding and subtracting in simple words, like adding is putting together, and subtracting is taking apart. You can teach this with the help of stories also. For example, two monkeys sat on a tree. Three more monkeys jumped there. How many monkeys are on the tree now?
For subtraction, you can use this story: Five oranges were on the table. I ate two oranges. How many oranges are on the table now?
3. Measurement & Data
Children love to compare things around them, even their favourite chocolate, “I want a big piece, mummy”. Therefore, encourage your child to compare using everyday objects, like who is taller and which one is bigger, and even teach your child to sort using colours and materials.
4. Geometry
Introduce your child to 2-D (flat) and 3-D shapes (solid) with the help of simple examples. You can introduce the following shapes to your child.
- 2-D shapes: squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles.
- 3-D shapes: cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres.
5. One To One Correspondence
Help children to identify how things around them relate. For example, two different groups have the same number of items.
6. Identifying Patterns
When children learn about patterns, it helps them to use reasoning to solve complex problems, make predictions and find a logical connections. Children need to learn about recognising the difference between objects and how they function together.
7. Parts & Whole
Teach fractions with the help of everyday objects, like – giving your child a biscuit and telling them if they break it in half, we will have two pieces, and each of those pieces (the parts) are rectangles!
8. Language
Encourage the use of maths language in your daily life. For example, you can use words like heavy, light, tall, short, round, add to, take away, etc.
9. Problem Solving Skills
- Convergent problem solving: When one gathers individual pieces of information together in mind and comes to a single solution to a problem.
- Divergent problem solving: When one gathers many pieces of information and considers a variety of possible solutions to a problem.
10. Comparing Differences
Children should be able to distinguish between different values, weights, and heights. This also promotes spatial awareness and critical thinking.
11. Observation
Children will use their senses to observe and gather information to organise it.
12. Ordering/Seriation
In this, a child has to compare more than two items or groups and place the items in a logical sequence. The placing of items can be based on size or shape, etc.
13. Numbers & Symbols
Here we are referring to the understanding that a specific number is a symbol, and that symbol stands for a set of specific items.
14. Representation
Make mathematical ideas “real” by using words, images, symbols, and everyday objects for teaching.
15. Estimation
Show your child how to estimate or make a good guess about the size or amount of something. It can be difficult for children to make an estimation, but you can help them by showing them how to estimate more, less, big, small, etc.
Now that you have read about the pre-math concepts for lkg and ukg, let’s look at some activities on the same for pre-schoolers.
Interesting Preschool Math Activities
Here are some easy ways and interesting ways to make your child learn preschool maths activities. These are fun and simply activates that your little one will love trying their hand at.
1. Count And Compare
Place two kinds of fruits in front of your child. Ask them to count the number of fruits on each plate. Next, ask them which plate has more fruits.
2. Guess The Shape
Show different objects around you to your child. Ask them to tell the name of the shape of the object. For example, ask them the shape of a clock, pillow, cushion, bed, ball, etc.
3. Sort The Pom-Poms
Give your child a box of colourful pom-poms and ask them to sort them according to the colour.
4. Make A 2D Shape
Ask your child to make 2D shapes using play dough. You can ask them to make shapes like squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles.
5. Backward Counting Song
Teach your child to count backwards with the help of some rhymes like this one:
Five fat sausages sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and one went “BANG”!
Four fat sausages sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and one went “BANG”!
Three fat sausages sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and one went “BANG”!
Two fat sausages sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and one went “BANG”!
One fat sausage sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and it went “BANG”!
No fat sausages are frying in a pan.
6. Play With Numbers
Let your little one play with foam, wooden or plastic numbers in the bath or on a magnetic board. This will help them to feel and know the shape of numbers.
7. Heavy & Light
Teach your child to compare things according to their weight. For example, you can give your child two objects, like a book and a glass, and ask them which one is heavier or lighter.
Also Read:
Easy Ways to Teach Your Child Basic Counting
2D Shapes for Preschoolers with Fun Activities
How to Teach Backward Counting to Kindergarteners
