Numbers and counting

• Lots and lots of counting! This can be verbally through singing counting songs such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Once I Caught A Fish Alive, 10 Sizzling Sausages, 10 In The Bed, 5 Little Monkeys.
• You can also count verbally and link this to counting objects and actions such as counting the stairs in your house, how many steps to the end of the path etc.
• With counting objects, start by counting up to 3 objects and then once your child is confident in this extend to counting up to 5 then beyond. Practice counting real objects by saying one number for each item. At first practice counting them in a straight line and then in an arrangement.
• Look for numbers and shapes in the environment e.g. door numbers, on car registration plates, on signs and on objects and equipment.
• Play board games and puzzles. Puzzles are important in developing children’s emotional, problem solving and physical skills.
• Practise matching actions to a number through games such as ‘What’s the time Mr. Wolf?’ or matching exercises to a number (roll a dice, pick a number or just say a number) e.g. 1 press up, 2 taps of your head, 3 frog jumps, touch your toes 4 times, 5 star jumps, 6 hops, 7 big elephant stamps, clap your hands 8 times, shrug your shoulders 9 times, 10 jumps. You can be as creative and as energetic as you like!
• Set up a snack station where your child ‘pays’ you in marbles/counters/1p coins/bottle top lids (whatever you have) e.g. slice of toast: 3 marbles, piece of fruit: 2 marbles, cereal bar: 5 marbles etc.
• Sorting and matching activities e.g. by colour, shape, size or type of object.

Money

Why not set up a tuck shop where children are paying for their snacks with real money. They could create a price board and pay with the coins. They could pay using 1p coins or a combination of coins. You may want to introduce giving change!

Websites

Here are a few websites that will help support your child's Mathematical learning.