Comment: Math learning happens naturally as children play. Young children discover, test, and apply math concepts naturally every day, in just about everything they do. Some kinds of math learning seem obvious, such as when a four year old counts to see how many blocks are in his tower. But children are "doing math" as they discuss whose cup is biggest or which bucket holds the most sand. They are developing problem-solving skills by working through playtime dilemmas, such as deciding which size block will make the best roof for a building. 

What Parents Can Do At Home

• Find opportunities in children's play to encourage and support the development of math concepts.
  
  
• Ask questions with many possible answers: "I wonder how many ways you could build a bridge with this set of blocks?"
  
  
• Use literature to encourage children to verbalize math concepts.
  
  
• As they search the picture for the smallest bunny or the four bluebirds, they can talk through their discoveries.
  
  
• Provide every day materials to encourage one-to-one counting, classifying, patterning, estimating and measuring: keys, buttons, measuring cups, measuring spoons, containers, seeds, jars and lids. 

Visit the district Kindergarten website for more activities and information: