Math at Home

Math at Home

Your children can explore some fascinating mathematical possibilities in the world around them every day.  Assisting your child with math will help build his or her self-confidence and understanding of mathematical ideas.  Talk math often; that is, communicate about math while discovering relationships between numbers.  The following activities are quick, easy ways to engage in math discussions with your children, and support their later success in math.

• Have a number of the day.  Each member of the family can take turns finding one way to make the number of the day.  For example, if 4 is the number of the day, and there are 2 people wearing socks, 2+2=4.


• Use math while cleaning up.  First, estimate how many items there are to put away.  Count items as you clean.  Compare the actual number with the estimation.


• Divide food so everyone gets a fair share.  Count to find out how much food there is (for example, cookies).  For young children, have them deal out the food into groups representing each person, and count how many each person gets.  Older children may be able to do this mentally. 


• Discuss how long it will take you to get somewhere (for example, school).  Ask your child what time you should leave to get there by a certain time.


• Allow your child to fill a measuring cup when using a recipe.


• Allow your children to find ‘treasures’ around the house (for example, nails, buttons).  Have them sort and classify their treasures.


• Explore your home for symmetrical designs.  Look at wallpaper, floor tiles, bedspreads, etc. 


• Cut out a picture (magazine, newspaper) that is symmetrical.  Glue one half of the picture on paper, and allow your child to draw the other half.


• Guess a number.  Take turns thinking of a number between a stated range of numbers, and try to guess the number.  For example, I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 10.  The child may say, “4.”  Tell the child higher or lower. 
  
  
  
  • Use guess a number, using only questions.  For example, I may say, “The number is between 1 and 10.”  The other person may only ask a question to get to the correct number, such as, “Is it lower than 5?”