10 Ways to Raise a Math Whizz (Part 2)

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Eyinade Eweje

Continued from Part 1

6. Sorting and Grouping

Sorting involves the ability to differentiate between items while grouping or classification entails selecting a property to group similar items together. Draw their attention to items that go together. For instance, ask him to sort plastics and squashy items into different boxes. Providing a wide array of objects regularly and askinghim to sort them out helps them improve on this skill.

7. Spatial Orientation

Spatial aptitude is vital to solving math problems that involve direction and position. The bulk of it is acquired through unstructured experiences such as playing with puzzles and other games such as hula-hoop, jump rope and so on. Toddlers love puzzles and they’re a fun way to get them to understand how things fit together. Let them also examine individual puzzle pieces and try to name their shape, correcting them where necessary.

In addition, outline different shapes on the table or create shape patterns with them to facilitate learning the concept of shapes. Point out circles, triangles, squares, rectangles and other shapes wherever you find them, especially around the home.

You should also play games that involve navigation with your tot to help him understand the concepts of ‘near and far,’ ‘under and over.’

8. One-to-one correspondence

It’s the ability to match up a verbal or written number with an object. When a child has mastered one-to-one correspondence, he can touch objects as he counts them. For example, have your child count the number 4 using various objects such as 4 crayons, 4 pencils, 4 pens and so on.

Shade dot on a piece of paper and have your child touch each one as he counts. Introducing board and dice games like Snakes and Ladders, Ludo and others that require your tot to move his token the number of spaces that corresponds to the number of dots on the dice will help him perfect this skill.

9. Counting, number recognition and writing

Once a child can recite the first 10 numbers by heart, it’s time to start learning to recognize numbers and name them, use them to count, and write them. For a good start, ask your tot to count her favourite items. Count fingers and toes, buttons, large legos, stuffed toys, pencils, cleaned coins and so on, accompanying them with nursery rhymes like ‘One, Two, Buckle My Shoe’. This will give your child an opportunity to practice counting in a fun and playful manner.

You can also pass time while waiting at the doctor’s reception by having your child count the number of seats there. Let him clap as he says each number name, and add a new number each time you practice.

10. Addition and Subtraction

Once a preschooler can count to 25, recognize numbers and write them by himself, he is ready to begin learning basic addition and subtraction. Start with addition in increments of one. “When you have one apple and you add one more, then you have two apples. When you have two apples and you add one more, then you have three apples” and so on. Whenever possible, have physical objects the child can view when learning addition, preferably objects that he loves to play with.