Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten: Part 3

Written By: Barbie Jones, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood

Developing Math Foundations

Math readiness involves more than counting—it's about recognizing patterns, understanding

quantities, and developing spatial awareness. These everyday activities build mathematical

thinking:

Count Everything Count steps as you climb stairs, apple slices during snack time, or cars in

the parking lot. This reinforces number sequence and helps your child understand that numbers

represent quantities.

Sort and Classify Sorting laundry, organizing toys by color or size, or categorizing groceries

develops logical thinking. Ask your child, "How are these items the same? How are they

different?"

Explore Shapes and Spatial Relationships Point out shapes in your environment: "The stop

sign is an octagon." Use position words like "above," "below," "besides," and "between" to describe where objects are located.

Play With Patterns Create simple patterns with blocks, beads, or even food items: "Red grape,

green grape, red grape—what comes next?" Pattern recognition is a fundamental mathematical

skill that prepares children for more complex concepts.

Math learning happens naturally through play and daily activities. When you incorporate

mathematical language and concepts into everyday experiences, you are building a strong

foundation for kindergarten math success.