Count and figure it out together
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using toys

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Many toys that your child plays with can help with maths. Talk about what they are doing and use everyday maths words. Use words like big, count, tall, thin, next to, round, square...

Lego, building blocks, construction sets, old boxes and packets

Your child learns about shapes fitting together when she builds with these. You can help your child talk about what she is doing. She can use words about size, shape, where things are, and number.

 learning about shapes fitting together

  • You're putting
    the tall thin ones on top.

  • You've used the round ones for the wheels.

  • You're putting the garage next to the house.

  • You've got two windows on this side and two on the other side.
    You can get your child to plan ahead.

  • What are you going to make? What will you need?

  • How many wheels will you need to make a car?

  • What shapes will you need to make a house?

  • Where are you going to put the garage?

Make suggestions only when your child has run out of ideas. Then offer choices. It is a good idea to link there to some recent experience or story:

  • Do you want to make a house like grandma's? Or a train like Thomas's?
    Make something to fit a doll or character:

  • Can you make a house for the three bears?

  • What about beds or hats for the bears?

  • Can you make a train shed for Thomas? A garage for Pat's van?

  • Is that big enough or is it too big?

 making things

Farms, zoos, playpeople

Make up some stories that involve numbers, such as moving animals in a barn.

You can make the barn from an old box.

 farms and zoos

Two sheep went into the barn, then a horse, then a cow.

How many are there now?

Then a big bull went in and the sheep and cow came out.

How many animals are left?



This is harder if you cannot see into the barn.

Ask your child to predict

if the cow goes back in, how many animals will there be then?

if the horse comes out, how many will be left?

Trucks, cars, trains


Your child will find out a lot by joining up train tracks and making roads that connect.

He can use boxes for buildings like garages, houses or shops.

You can ask your child to talk about what is going on, or you can say something like this.

The train is going round the track.
It's going over the bridge.
It's going into the station.
It's stopping next to the house.
It's going between the trees.

trains


As before, you can make up stories together that involve numbers.

Two red cars went to the garage,
then two blue ones,
then a truck.
How many are there altogether?

 

Useful questions to ask

  • Where is the truck going next?

  • Can the truck take 5 apples to the greengrocers?

  • Can it take some haybales for the animals?

  • Is the truck full yet?

  • How many playpeople can fit inside?

  • How many have you got already?

  • How many more can get in?

  • If two people get out how many will be left
tidying up


Tidying up

When tidying up toys you can count things and talk about sizes, and how to fit things in boxes.

Let's check the jigsaw bits: it says 20 pieces on the box.

 jigsaws

How many lego pieces are there?

Have you put all your cars in the garage?

Have you got all your cuddly toys in bed with you?

How many should there be?

How many have we got?

How many are still missing?

How can we fit all the cars in this box?

If we put the biggest ones in first, they will be easier to fit.

Which is the biggest?

Which is the next biggest?

What will your child be learning?

Maths words

  • number - one, two, three, lots, how many, more

  • size - big, little, tall, thin, wide, deep, far away, high

  • order - first, next, last

  • shapes - round, flat, with corners, circle, square, triangle

  • where things are - next to, on top of, underneath, between.

Shapes and how things fit together


All these things help your child get a sense of shape and space:

  • fitting things in spaces

  • fitting shapes together

  • seeing models from all sides

  • joining routes.

These skills help adults solve all sorts of problems, such as packing, building, making up furniture, reading diagrams and maps, and working out routes.

problems solving

Counting, adding and taking away

Help your child understand what each number means.

For example, ask him to:

  • get four cows

  • count how many people fit in the car

  • check that all the wheels are back in the box.

Help your child to add and take away.

Ask her to:

  • put two more cars in the garage

  • take one bus from the bus station

  • count how many lions are left in the zoo

  • say how many animals are on the farm altogether

  • count the beds in the dolls' house and say how many are missing.
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