Instead, young children are ready to learn one-to-one correspondence, sorting, sequencing, number, counting, and shapes. Much simpler, right? However, these skills can still seem challenging for parents to support in their child’s development. Are workbooks, worksheets, computer programs or apps the best to practice these skills? How can we know that our children are “ready for school” when it comes to math?

Math skills can be practiced each and every day at home or at school. First, include your child in everyday tasks, even those you would not think they can do well.  Tasks such as laundry, cleaning, cooking, maintenance, shopping and caring for pets can be turned into math practice! Here are some suggestions for including your child in every day math practice.

• Laundry: Sorting laundry by type, family member and size. Match and count the pairs of socks. Fold clothing in half and half again. Measure detergent with child sized cups.
• Cleaning: Using child sized spray bottles, clean the table by counting squirts before wiping it down. Sweep the floor in a circle or square shape. Use sponges cut into different shapes to clean different items.  Categorize dishes and wash by category, such as round plates, square plates, round bowls and mugs, etc.  Create a pattern by washing first a plate, then a cup then a bowl and repeating until dishes are clean.
• Cooking: Whenever possible, include children in the cooking and food preparation. Use plastic measuring cups to measure ingredients and a wooden spoon to stir. Use a butter knife to cut vegetables into small or large chunks. Estimate how long it will take to cook or bake and then discuss the reality versus guess.
• Grocery Shopping: Create a list children can check off to practice one-to-one correspondence. Sort the cart by type of items, such as those in boxes or not, cold or room temperature, etc. Count items in the cart. Pack unbreakable groceries in paper bags trying to fit them in safely without crushing them. Weigh bulk foods, adding and subtracting amounts to get to one pound.
• Routines: For the morning routine, use a picture chart to put the steps to getting ready in order for children to follow. For bedtime routine, use a timer or a picture clock to show the amount of time rather than the actual time. Read books including numbers, counting, sorting and classifying. Use a picture schedule showing a picture of each main activity during a stay at home day so children can follow the schedule and manipulate when things change.

Remembering that math skills for little ones is more than just algebra will make a big difference in how you perceive math as a parent. Have fun with mathematics and go beyond just helping children memorize numbers in order. Look to everyday tasks you may find tedious for opportunities to include learning moments.  It is easier than you may think and way more fun!

This little piggie went to market. 

This little piggie stayed home.

This little piggie had roast beef. 

This little piggie had none. 

And this little piggie cried, “Whee whee whee” all the way home.

There is nothing on earth as precious as baby toes.  They are so little and soft and squishy and I really just want to eat them up.  I spent endless hours tickling, rubbing, and holding  my babies toes.  They may have always worn hats, but they rarely wore socks because I wanted easy access to their little piggies.

Why is it important for parents and caregivers of very young children to play games, sing songs, and repeat chants over and over with their infants and toddlers?  Infants build trust with the people around them who respond in caring, nurturing and consistent ways. Engaging with a child using her piggies as props and a soothing , sing-song voice to repeat the “Piggies” story over and over reaffirms the child’s nascent understandings of the world as a safe and caring and consistent place.

The “Piggie” story serves another purpose because it follows a predictable pattern.  Children come to expect that the piggie who comes after the roast beef-eating piggie never gets any roast beef.  The last piggie always runs home screaming, “Whee, whee, whee.”  This repetition also creates an experience that is predictable which may be one of the most important systems we have to support early mathematical concepts.  It is within the repetitive structure of the young child’s day and routines where she develops expectations. Trust is built when the expectations are met.  Feelings of confidence and security emerge as she predicts the next part of the story and she finds that she is correct.

It is important that parents and caregivers establish routines that are repetative and engaging.  If at the end of the day, when you remove shoes (?) and socks, you tell the Piggie story with both the child’s right foot and then the left foot, you should try to continue that routine evening after evening so it becomes a part of the child’s routine.  This “bonding” interaction will eventually become a part of the whole evening and the routine will be incomplete without it.

So, is there value in the Piggie Story?  You betcha!