Have you ever read a book to a child and counted objects on the pages, looked for shapes, found different colours, or noticed patterns in the storytelling? Believe it or not, you are introducing numeracy skills.
Stories are a powerful way to explore numeracy concepts. They:
- Provide simple and easy ways for children to relate the pictures and words to their lives
- Encourage the use of numeracy language by using phrases like: How many? How far? How much?
- Develop concepts like following directions, following recipes
- Offer opportunities to problem solve, count backwards or forwards or by 2’s, introduce basic math skills
- Increase memory skills by retelling stories in the correct order. Beginning, middle, and end can be recalled without the book in front of you
TIPS!
- Read together often, when you can spend the time relaxed and not rushed
- You do not need a hundred different books, a variety of books is best
- You do not have to find math books for numeracy. Books rich in colour, shapes, and numbers are appealing to children and there are so many available
- Find books that have a clear beginning, middle, and end (sometimes they start with Once upon a time)
- Look for books that have a repeating sequence of events
- Use recipe books, craft books, Lego building books (following instruction and direction step by step)
- It is okay and expected for children to want to read the same book over and over again for weeks before they are ready to move on to another. As they become more familiar with the story, they are also understanding it better each time. The predictability is important for young children to want to follow along
- Take time to revisit old favourites
- When reading, talk together. Pause the story to ask questions, and give your child time to answer. Ask questions like, “what do you think happens next?” “Can you count all of the red spots?” “Do you spot the dog?” “How many girls are wearing yellow dresses?”
- Give children a chance to explain what they think and see
- Look for opportunities to talk about routines like nap time, dinner time, bath time, bed time, days of the week and/or months, and seasons
Some books we like to share are:
- If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff
- The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
- Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
- Looking For A Moose by Phyllis Root
- The Napping House by Audrey Wood
- Memoirs Of A Goldfish by Devin Scillian
- How To Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan
To get over 125 of the best activities to do with your children to boost and build key literacy skills from birth to 5 years, download the Centre for Family Literacy’s FREE Flit app (Families Learning and Interacting Together).
Click here for the iOS version.
Click here to download the Android version.
