Maths for Kindergarten Kids
Kindergarten is a time when children build up the basic math skills that they need for life. These skills can be taught in a fun and enjoyable way. Developing math skills at this point can have a profound effect on how a child deals with maths and related subjects, and even impact on career choices in early adulthood.
Early Math Skills
Counting and Sorting
Children in kindergarten start learning math skills long before they are introduced to numbers. There are many other skills which help children understand the concepts of numbers and quantity, and this is essential for them to understand and work with numbers. Counting is the ability to count a number of objects correctly.
Sorting objects depending on their characteristics is one of the foundational math skills. Initially children learn sorting based on one characteristic and then they can be taught to sort and work with objects of various characteristics. Once children are able to do sorting, they are taught to match two similar objects.
Colors and Shapes
The understanding of colors and shapes and associating of the names to the color or shape is one of the early skills that children learn. This too has a role in building a good foundation for math. Colors and shapes can be taught with a wide range of hands on activities, including art and craft activities.
Size
The concept of size involves understanding small and big, smaller and bigger and also arranging objects in ascending and descending order of size. This helps children learn to compare the size of different objects, which will further help them understand the way numbers are used.
Patterning
Making patterns help children learn to work with numbers even before they learn numbers. It teaches them sequencing and order to arrange and even the fundamentals of geometry. In this way, children can learn to make more complex patterns, and practice working with numbers of different quantities.
Number identification
Number identification is basically the ability to look at the written form of a number and being able to say what number it is. Children pick up this skill early, but they usually need more time to understand the relevance of a number. When combined with other activities, a child can quickly move from just calling out a number to being able to work with it in everyday practical terms.
Rote counting
Rote counting is the ability to say numbers in order from memory. Children usually pick this up through games and other activities that they play at kindergarten. This does not mean that a child will fully understand that successive numbers increase in quantity and vice versa, but it is an indication of their ability to memorize and recall number-related information.
Number concept
Number concept is an understanding of how many objects are in a number. This is sometimes more difficult for a child because it is the bridging the gap between identifying numbers and actually putting basic math skills, like counting, into practice. A variety of hands on activities can be introduced to help children practice and develop this skill.
Teaching math to kindergarten children
The basic math skills are actually very few, but need a lot of practice. The more a child gets the opportunity to practice skills and work with quantities and numbers, the better their math foundation. A lot of hands on activities can be used to practice skills. The way a child learns to deal with any new or existing activity will determine their long term association and comfort with the subject matter. With math being the cornerstone of most skilled activities, teaching it in a manner that is fun yet constructive can have a host of effects on the child, adolescent and even adult.
