Basic math and number concepts utilized in a preschool or kindergarten classroom set the foundation for learning more advanced math concepts. Early exposure to math and number activities will promote your child’s comfort with these skills. Also, additional opportunities to practice these skills will increase your child’s confidence when working with math and number concepts and will lead him to believe he is “good at math.”

On the contrary, if your child does not become comfortable with math and number concepts at a young age, he will lack confidence in his abilities and may become hesitant as more advanced math concepts are introduced. When this happens, he may default to believing he is “bad at math” and may risk beginning a self-fulfilling cycle of failure.

The first step in Math and Number Awareness is learning what the 10 numerals (0 through 9) look like. This requires strong Visual Discrimination skills since many numerals (such as 6 and 9, or 1 and 7) look very similar. Once a child is able to recognize the 10 numerals and know each numeral’s name, he can develop an understanding of the amount each numeral represents.

This activity provides a fun and easy way to practice numbers!

Steps:

1. Make 'number' cards, with letters in the center and the corresponding spelling at the bottom (example: '1' in the center and 'ONE' underneath at the bottom). Alternatively you can buy a number line border at Dollar Tree and cut it up into pieces by each number

2. Punch a hole on the left and right side of each card

3. Have your child make his own number line using learning links to join cards in sequence

4. Alternatively, you can punch holes at the bottom right of each card. Your child can link the correct number of links to the card depending on the number it represents (Linking 3 links to the card with the number '3' on it)