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Ordinary activities can be used to
reinforce young children's number sense and introduce them to arithmetic
operations such as addition and subtraction.
What to Do
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Take your child
for a walk. You can walk around your neighborhood, through a park, or just
around the rooms in your home. As you walk, say silly things for him to do,
such as the following:
- Take two big
steps and three little steps.
- Take three
little steps, hop one time, take three big steps.
- Take one little
step, turn around two times.
- Hop four times,
turn around one time.
- Take three big
steps forward and two big steps backward.
·
Count aloud each
kind of action that your child performs and compliment him for his
efforts—"1, 2—1, 2, 3—1, 2. That's great!"
·
Let your child
turn the tables and say silly things for you to do as you walk.
·
For your
kindergarten child, expand the activity by asking him to "guess" (estimate)
how many of his steps it will it take, for example, to get from the tree to
the corner. After he makes his estimate, have him count steps to see how
close the estimate is. Next ask him how many of your steps it will take.
Will it take you more steps or fewer to go the same distance? Again, have
him count to see if his answers are correct.
Extension
Throughout the day, find ways to let
children practice using arithmetic skills. Ask, for example, "How many
magazines came in the mail?" "How many more letters will we need to get to
have 10 letters?" "Which are there more of, magazines or letters?"
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