Comprehensive resources for parents and professionals in play-based early childhood education

Mathematics at Home


A child’s understanding of mathematical concepts grows considerably between pre-kindergarten and Grade 2. But learning math involves more than knowing how to count, add and subtract – according to professor and author Catherine Twomey Fosnot, it’s about structuring, modeling and essentially, interpreting the world through a mathematical lens.

Links

  • The Math Catcher: Mathematics Through Aboriginal Storytelling

    The Math Catcher: Mathematics Through Aboriginal Storytelling project “includes the creation of a series of short animated films that accompany picture books, as well as the development of related activities that introduce math topics and techniques through stories that follow Aboriginal storytelling formats and contain elements of Aboriginal traditions and cultures.”

  • A developmental guide for the science-minded parent

    Dr. Gwen Dewar (a biological anthropologist) has written a very readable summary of research pertaining to learning early math, and she offers many practical and interesting suggestions for how to build children’s sense of numerosity and understanding of early counting.  She emphasizes, “Don’t push.  Learning should be spontaneous and fun.”

Downloads

Parents and caregivers can infuse mathematical concepts into play by recognizing some key mathematical landmarks. Use the Math Landmarks pdf as a guide when looking at the play-based scenarios listed below:
Math Landmarks

This document contains information about core math skills, such as compensation, patterns and cardinality. The skills are also identified in the math-related play outlined in the other math downloads on the site.

Measuring Blocks

Mathematical reasoning and problem solving are just some of the math skills gained by playing with a simple set of blocks.

Jumping Frogs

Read how one child develops correspondence and compensation skills, thanks to a simple game of jumping frogs, rocks or marbles.

More Toast?

Breakfast time can be a great opportunity to think mathematically, as one mom and her son discovered.

Road side or trailer side?

Even a walk along and across a muddy creek can be explored deeply in a mathematical way.

Marble Soup

Ratios are the name of the game when a young child decides to make “soup” out of different types of marbles.

Dice

A simple set of dice provides opportunities for numerical recognition, addition and subtraction.

Potions

Adding food colouring to water is not only a great way to explore different colour combinations, but to allow your child to systemically work through all the possibilities.

Books

The Sleepover

A simple bedtime story can open the door to another “what if” conversation that involves math.

A Remainder of One

Many children’s books address mathematical ideas in fun and interesting ways. Simply reading them, however, won’t instill deep mathematical understanding. But when kids can model the stories and are encouraged to find ways to generalize the mathematical ideas the stories contain, books can provide great opportunities for deepening mathematical understanding.

Supporting Research