3 Simple Ways to Make Mathematics More Enjoyable for Your Preschooler

It is not uncommon for people to be intimidated by math, even if in reality, we use math a lot in our everyday lives, from counting how much money we need for our morning commute, choosing which brand of diaper will fit into our budget, in preparing ingredients when we cook or planning the hours in our day. Math is an important and useful tool, and it would be good for kids to have a better appreciation for it. 

"At its heart, math is creative problem solving, a skill that's innate in young children," Alisa Affleck, an education mentor at Western Governors University in Salt Lake, Utah, told Parents. 

But instead of fearing math, our kids should be taught to embrace it as early as now.

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Here are a few things you can do to get your preschooler to like Math

1. Play math games

Haven't we said it enough that kids learn through play? They will understand concepts better if they can apply them while having fun.

Some of the recommended games you can try with your young kids are:

• Junior Monopoly, a board game to introduce your kids to counting and money
• Dino Math Tracks, which teaches addition and subtraction (a child who is obsessed with dinosaurs will love this!)
• Sungka, a traditional Filipino two-player strategy game that makes use of a wooden sungkaan and small shells or pebbles.      

2. Read books about math

Probably even better than flash cards or worksheets in teaching math are books that discuss concepts your child will find relatable.

• Let's Count Goats! by Mem Fox and Jon Thomas is a fun book for kids up to age 10.
• Eric Carle's Rooster's Off to See the World has animals as your child's counting companion.
• Hating Kapatid, by Filipino author Raissa Rivera Falgui and illustrator Fran Alvarez, teaches not only the concept of fractions but also the values of fairness and sharing with family members. 

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3. Look for math in the ordinary

As mentioned earlier, math is present in our daily lives, and maybe we just don't realize it. To get your kids to see how important this subject is, bring them when you're doing your groceries and ask them to estimate how many apples would make a kilo, or compute how much each apple would cost.

At home, let them count how much time it takes for a full laundry cycle to finish, or approximate how long a box of detergent would last if you put this much per load. These simple tasks help sharpen their brain without making it seem like you are trying to get them to learn.

Lastly, if you, the parent, aren't very adept in Math, don't focus so much on it. What's important is that you imbibe the right mindset, and encourage your child to do the same. Remember, nothing is ever so hard if you deal with it with an open mind and persistence — even when it comes to this subject very few say is their favorite.

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