Wouldn’t it be great to create a lending library filled with math games as well?  You could begin with a small collection of simple board games like “Chutes and Ladders” and “Candyland” and expand the collection as needed.  It might be nice to attach a clipboard to the box so families could jot down notes about their game experience, or so they can suggest modifications or extensions to game play.  I would also create small bags of extra “pieces” such as dice, chips, spinners and markers just in case these go missing.  You might want to include decks of cards with directions for playing “Memory” or “War.”  A few sets of “Uno” might also be fun.

As you introduce these games to the children, you can make them available in the lending library.  That way, the children can go home and teach their families about the game, the rules, and how to play. Some families may not know these games, or know that they are good choices for young children.  They may think that games such as these require reading or more sophisticated skills than they do.  Presenting them as available options may open them up to family game play and another fun way to support their child(ren)’s development.

Now that the summer is here, so are the garage sales.  Make sure to check out the garage sales in your neighborhoods as they are often filled with old board games, dice, decks of cards, dominoes, adding machines and other fun math materials.  The entire list above can probably be put together for twenty dollars, especially if you get lucky at those garage sales or your local Dollar Store.

One of my best friends lives in SF now with her husband and 2 young children.  Bea is now 4 1/2 (“almost 5,” as she likes to tell) and Theo  is a delightful 2-year-old, both smart, funny, and just about as cute as can be. We decided to have a “girls night out” so I got to spend 24 hours with Bea and Alison, enjoying the sunny, warm and gorgeous Bay Area with 2 of my favorite girls.

After a fun-filled afternoon and dinner in a restaurant , I was wiped out. We all climbed into bed, told stories, sang songs and had a generally wonderful time.  After about 15 minutes, I rolled over, closed my eyes, and began to drift off.  Alison lay in bed chatting with Bea and after a few moments I realized they were playing a game about “opposites”.  Alison asked questions like, “What is the opposite of short?” And Bea responded with “long” or “tall”.  This went on for a really long time, but Alison never ran out of words to ask about and Bea never ran out of answers. The words ran the gamut from the obvious and mundane (i.e., new, young) to the much more complicated (i.e., funny, special).  I found myself thinking about how I would answer these more complicated “opposite” questions… What is the opposite of funny or special?  My first response is “unfunny”  or “not special” but that is cheating.

This whole interaction got me thinking about how these parent/child moments are the stuff that early childhood is made of.  It was clear that this game (it was a game because they made it a game – fun and interactive) was one that they had played before.  Bea’s answers were amazing.  Many of them were right on the mark and others were funny and creative.  Alison never tired of playing, supporting Bea’s efforts with words of encouragement and follow-up, clarifying questions.  The level of Bea’s vocabulary is a natural result of the level of conversation and interaction between her and the adults in her life.  She has had the benefit of an excellent early childhood education in a diverse and inclusive environment that respects the world of children.

How can we as child care providers encourage parent-child exchanges like the one described above?  Every time I think about trying to describe the importance of meaningful interactions to parents I worry that  I am either; a) assuming  -of course parents are developing creative and significant opportunities interacting with their children, or b) culturally insensitive – this is a very specific model of parenting that may not be appropriate to all parents.

What do you think?

Click here to access the article.