One of the great things about homeschooling is the
unique opportunities it presents for teaching. Your child doesn’t have to sit
at a desk or stay in a building most of the day while learning to read, write
or count. You can take them out and about and teach wherever you are.
Learning to count is the earliest introduction to
the vital math skills our children will use not much later in life, and it can
be done in these fun and incorporative ways!
Countless
opportunities to teach counting (aside from a curriculum) can be found
within the home. You can have your child count the number of eggs or
cups of milk needed for a recipe, candy to be divided and shared with
siblings and even household items - like DVDs- as they are organized and
put back in their place.
At the Park
While at the park you can make a game of teaching counting.
Count the number of ducks you see in a pond as you feed them. Count how many
times you’ve swung your child on the swing set, either aloud together or in
your heads and then compare numbers when you’re done swinging. Ask your child
to collect and bring a specific number of leaves, sticks or rocks to you and
then count them together.
At the Beach
Remember that rhyme, Sally sells seashells down by
the sea shore? Well, you can make a game of it and collect and count the
seashells you see down by the seashore. You can even use them to do simple math
equations by taking some away and adding some on.
At the Grocery Store
Grocery shopping with little people may feel like a
task for the brave, but if you choose to be this brave it can become a
wonderful opportunity to teach counting. Tell your child to grab “x” amount of
a certain item you need from a shelf or count all of your items as you place
them on conveyor belt. Count the number of bags used as you pack or unload the
car.
How have you incorporated teaching counting into daily
life?
Del Kroemer
Del Kroemer is the
blessed mama of 3 beautiful and busy little girls, the wife of one big hearted
husband and happily homeschooling while working from home as a writer. She is
currently working on a new blog focused on being devoted to seeking God’s truth
and wisdom in homeschooling, homemaking and thriving in this temporary home!
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