Numbers and Counting

Toddlers can learn about math basics by counting. PBS Kids (at www.pbskids.org) reports that reading counting books and pointing out numbers on ordinary objects helps your toddler learn the basics of what will become future mathematics skills. Do you remember stories like “Five Little Monkeys?” Or songs like “One. Two. Buckle My Shoe?” You can be a math teacher at home. Count numbers out loud as you climb stairs (1, 2, 3, 4) with a toddler, or count steps as walk with your toddler from one room to another. Count the number of toys or any items you place on a table or on the floor. As your child learns, gradually increase the number of items, allowing your child to learn more numbers over time.