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Teaching your Preschooler Numbers & Concepts After Age 4
by Pat Cramer
It is important when teaching a child numbers that they not only are able to count, or recognize numbers, but that they understand the "concept" of numbers. If they do, math will come much easier to them.
Most parents teach their children to cont. But it is so much easier when teaching this skill to introduce it all AND give you and your child some time together!!!
Make a number book--sounds simple, right? Get 11 different color pieces of construction paper and 11 pieces of white paper together. Find something suitable for a cover or make one out of additional construction paper. Let your child design the cover. Pick one day of the week and set a time on that day that you and your child can work on the "number book." Be excited and be consistent to that day and time so the child can look forward to this special time with mom (or dad). Do only one number per week. Remember, you have a short attention span in your child.
On the first piece of construction paper, with a magic marker, make a simple zero. Put glue on the zero and have the child glue down pieces of rice to the number. Set aside to dry, and now you have a tactile number. Explain about zero. Let the child try making some zeros on the white paper.
The next week, follow the same procedure with the number one. On the white paper this time, besides letting the child make number ones, cut out or tear out pictures of ones, one item, etc. When these pages are done have your preschooler close their eyes and trace the numbers with their index finger as if they were making them with a pencil, top to bottom, left to right. Reinforce last weeks lesson and praise the job well done.
You can do this for all the numbers 0-10 and when you are finished you will have a cute book that you and your child can use to reinforce numbers how to make them, what they stand for and their concept. Punch holes and tie with yarn.
PLUS, later on YOU will have a treasured remembrance of the time spent with your child!!!
Pat Cramer is a former teacher in California. She has also done private tutoring for 20 years, preschool, gifted to high school. She is a grandma of one with one on the way. She can be reach via e-mail at C3035@aol.com
©2001 Pat Crammer. All rights reserved. Article used by permission.
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