Kids and Math

For kids it is really important to start with concrete examples and start young!!  Many children by a few years of age have memorized the counting numbers.  They can rattle off with confidence 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.  That is wonderful, but the problem is they usually have no idea what that means.  They know when they say it everyone praises them and smiles, but they have no idea 1 is one object, 2 is two objects etc.  Understanding this concept is so important and a 2-3 year old can understand it, but you need to work with them.  When you are not at home you can do something simple like counting fingers.  While your child is eating, if they spill any cereal on the table have them pick it up and practice counting each piece as they pick it up.
It would be great to start with blocks, this helps kids understand that two is bigger than one etc.  Get a whole bunch of uniform blocks (same size).  Start at first with 1,2,3 don't go any further until your child really understands what you are teaching.

Take one block and say this is one let them touch it and feel it then lay it down in front of you.  Put two blocks together and say this is two, let them touch and feel and have them repeat this is two, then put them down in front of you just further away then #1 block so it looks like math example #1.  Then do the same with 3  blocks saying this is three.  In Montessori we do something like this but it is with these things called the Number Rods.  It is basically what I am explaining but the blocks are glued together and painted different colors do differentiate between them.
You can also take the one block and put in on top of the first two block and count ONE then move it to the second one and say TWO.
Then go to the first block of the 3 blocks and count ONE then move it on top of the second on and count TWO then move it on top of the Third block and count THREE, then put the number one block back in place and let the child try.
After you tell them what something is, then you ask them by name where it is for example: where is two? where is one? where is three?
After they can show you where they all are without help you then move on to doing this.  What is this (point to one of the groups of blocks) What is this (point to another) when they can tell you which one is one, which one is two and which one is three without you even using the names just asking what is this? and pointing they are usually ready to add 4 and 5.  Just add two at a time, dont move past 10 blocks until they really understand easily up till 10.  I have tons more you can do with math but that will have to wait for another time, I got to go to church toodles!
Carly