Math. One of the most important subjects to learn. It is a subject that you use every day of your life in dozens of ways from balancing your checkbook to measuring out the correct amount of laundry detergent. Although we start teaching mathematics in the form of counting and shapes at a very young age, kindergarten is when math really starts to take hold as a specific topic (thanks to standardized curriculum). Naturally parents wonder what their five-year-old needs to know about math before graduating to the first grade. To make it clear, it's easier to separate concepts into numbers, grouping/ordering/patterns, less and more and money basics.
Numbers
By their fifth birthday many kids can count to ten, some to twenty and a few higher than that. However, counting isn't the only action children need to make with numbers. Recognizing numbers is of great importance, which through flash cards and manipulatives (such as beans, beads, and small toys) can be taught quickly and with fun. The standard that I have read from studying the curriculum of early childhood education state that twenty is the number most five-year-olds should be able to count up to. Also the child should be able to recognize the individual numbers on a line and when taken out of the line. A fun way to learn numbers (and one of my kids' favorite rainy day games) along with the other concepts is to get index cards or even regular paper in a pinch and write the numbers 1-20 on the cards. Grab some dry beans, beads, pebbles or any small item that can be counted and that you have a lot of. Have your child count out enough items to go on each card to match the number. Trust me it won't take long for your child to be counting up to 20 and to be able to recognize every number from 1 to 20.
Grouping/Ordering/Patterns
Above we were grouping in order to help your child count better and recognize numerical symbols. Now we'll be working on sorting according to similar or different characteristics. Also important is for children to be able to put steps of a process into order. For example seeing three pictures of buying, making and flying a kite and knowing which is first, second and third. You can work with your children on this while reading stories, playing games, doing housework together, everything has steps - just start pointing them out and asking your child questions about them. Patterns are similar to grouping and ordering but are different also. Figuring out patterns requires critical thinking on the part of your child. You can use cards or paper and crayons or you can use items like toys, barrettes, any little things that can be set in a pattern. I advise using both form of teaching as some kids learn best one way and others learn better the other way but all kids will learn the best both ways. Form a pattern with whatever means you're using and help your child figure out what comes next. Start off simple and gradually make the patterns more difficult.
Less and More
There are many varying opposing concepts that a five-year-old needs to know but I wasn't sure what might fit here or in English so I stuck with just less and more - two obviously mathematical ideas. You won't even have to buy anything special. Simply be alert to instances of more and less during your day and point them out whenever possible to your child.
Money and Coins
Most young children understand money is used to buy things but very little else. By teaching that all coins have a value, you open their eyes to a world of personal finance.
You can have a lot of fun with this too. Set up a pretend "store" and give your child a little bit of money. Talk about what each coin is and how much it is worth and then let them go shopping. When they suddenly realize that they can't buy everything they will quickly learn to figure out what they can buy.
Teaching and learning math doesn't need to be a grueling experience for either of you. You can play a little, learn a little and have a whole lot of fun.
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