Number skills are the essential building blocks for children to learn math. One of the very first of these skills that you teach your children is likely to be counting. For young children, this begins as a simple pattern, such as a nursery rhyme. However, once they begin to develop a realization, they can quickly start to see how words and numbers relate to one another and what they mean.
Learning To Count
Learning to count will actually begin as your children simple repeats numbers as you say them. In the very earliest stages, the pattern will have many gaps. It is not at all uncommon for young children to leave out a number or get the progression wrong. For instance, some children might say, “20-10” after they reach the number 29. This is their reasoning and much like learning colors, this will take patience and commitment from parents and caregivers trying to help teach the child.
Helping Your Child Learn Numbers
There are lots of things you can do to help your child learn their numbers and number skills. For instance, you can count buttons as you button up their shirt or coat. You can make a game of counting the number of steps it takes to get from the front door to your mailbox. Counting the number of items in a container, such as eggs in a carton, is another great game and can even be expounded on by asking, “How many eggs are missing?” or “How many eggs are left?”
Another game you can play is counting the number of times you pitch a ball back and forth without dropping the ball. Or just simply asking your child to count as far as they can count, and encouraging them when they feel they cannot go any farther. Help them by saying the next number, if necessary.
Overall, it seems the best way to teach a child about numbers and number concepts is through play and entertainment. It not only allows them to grasp these skills at their own level and pace, but also helps them to understand what they mean in context. Once your child learns to recognize numbers, then they can begin to write them for themselves and begin their journey into math.
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