Parenting the Preschooler: How do you make learning math fun for your child? (2024)

Ages & Stages

Preschooler A child who is 3 to 5 years of age.

Young child A child who is 0 to 8 years of age.

Minding Our Language

Families come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. A “family” may include people who are related by blood, by marriage, and by choice. “Parents” may be biological, step-, foster, adoptive, legally appointed, or something else. When we use the words “family” and “parent” in these materials, we do so inclusively and with great respect for all adults who care for and work with young people.

For preschool children, math is much more than learning how to count. They need to learn to sort and match objects and notice differences and similarities between things. They may be able to group objects by size, shape, or other traits. They may notice simple patterns like color schemes or how many steps they take between sidewalk cracks. They may also start to figure out what comes next in a string of objects that are arranged in a sequence.

Few preschoolers can measure things accurately, but most begin to develop the language and skills they will need when they learn to measure. Preschoolers may talk about inches or feet and use a ruler or other device to measure an object. All these concepts are early math skills. Try some of the following ideas to help your child develop their math skills:

• Sort clothes together. Let them help you do laundry and sort clothes into separate piles. Teach them to sort whites from darks or jeans from towels. When the laundry is done, they can even help you fold it! (Or at least carry it to the right person’s bedroom.)
• Make a pattern with socks. Start with a pile of socks, and pull out two of one color and three of another. Arrange the socks in a simple pattern, such as white, black, white, black, white. Say the colors out loud as you show your preschooler the pattern, then have them repeat the pattern out loud with you. Ask your child to choose which sock would come next in the pattern. Try it with different patterns using two colors and even three as they get better at guessing which color comes next in the pattern.
• Read a counting book together. Count the objects on a page as you read it together. Point to the number and count each of the objects out loud as your child points to it.
• Play a number hunt game. Pick a number of the day (for example, their age or the number of pets in your family). Start by looking at the number together, describing it, and having your child trace it with their finger. Then look for it in books, on signs or boxes, and other places as the two of you go about your day together. When you spot the number, point it out and count to it together.
• Compare objects. If you keep your shoes by the door, ask your child to tell you which pair is bigger, and which is smaller. Place two scarves, belts, or even shoelaces next to each other on the floor or another flat surface. Ask your preschooler to tell you if the objects are the same length, or if they’re different lengths, which is longer.
• Match socks together. When you fold laundry, save the socks to fold with your child. Ask them to help you match the pairs of socks. Hold up a sock and have them find its mate. When they find the match, you can fold or ball the socks up in pairs.

Find Out More

MSU Extension provides the following resources for parents and caregivers of preschoolers and young children at no or low cost. Be sure to check out these and other MSU Extension resources available atwww.extension.msu.edu.

Extension Extras (https://bit.ly/2LC2vdX) – These compilations of news articles, activities, parenting tips and advice are published online Monday through Friday. The resources are designed for parents and caregivers of young children who are home all day during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Each day has a theme: Mindful Mondays, Tips on Tuesday, Working Wednesdays, Thinking Thursday, and Fun Fridays.

Extension Extras Enrichment Kits (https://bit.ly/35QAplQ) – These kits feature five or six early childhood activities with learning goals focused in areas such as social and emotional health, literacy, and STEM; a supply list; suggested children’s books; introduction letters explaining how to use the materials; and an evaluation. The kits are available as free downloads.

Early Childhood Videos (https://bit.ly/3ioyEkS) – These short videos offer parents and caregivers of young children information on parenting topics. Titles include “Perspective Taking,” “Family Movies,” “Goals of Misbehavior,” “Using Thinking and Feeling Words,” “The Waiting Game,” and “When Siblings Fight.”

Building Early Emotional Skills (BEES) in Young Children (https://bit.ly/38XW4KI) – This page provides links to a variety of free online parenting courses, workshops, and events offered by MSU Extension for parents and caregivers of young children aged 0 to 3.

Parenting the Preschooler: Social Competence and Emotional Well-Being © 2021 Michigan State University Board of Trustees. The fact sheets in this series may be copied for purposes of 4-H and other nonprofit educational programs and for individual use with credit to Michigan State University Extension.