Math Activities for Home

• Count various items in your house, then put them into groups of 2's, 5's, and 10's and count them again.
• Practice counting every day (the car ride is a great time).  A little bit every day builds skills.  Any motion you can add to your counting (for example, tap your head when you count by 1's, tap your shoulders when you count by 5's, and clap your hands when you count by 10's) helps those children who learn with their bodies!
• Play "Beat the Clock." As your child does daily activities (brushing teeth, getting coat on, etc.) see if they can complete the activity before you finish counting between 2 numbers (for example, between 1-50). Don't just count by 1's, try counting backwards, by 2's, 5's, and 10's.  Then have your child "time" you and do the counting.
• Have your child write out a number line.  Then circle the 2's, 5's, or 10's.
• Play "Back and Forth."  One person starts by saying a number (i.e. 1).  The other person says the next number (i.e. 2).  Then back to the first person and so on until you've counted high!
• Don't forget about board games, dominoes, etc. that build general number sense!
• Write out a number line, cut it apart, and put it back together in order.
• Make cards of the numbers your child is working on (1-30) and play "Number Go Fish" or "Number Memory Game."
• Play "Number Zap!" Write numbers on index cards.  Make a few cards that say "Zap!" Mix up the cards and put them in a bag.  Take turns picking out a card.  If a player can say the number, they keep the card.  If not, the card goes back in the bag. If a player picks a "Zap!" card, all his/her cards go back in the bag!
• Play "My Pile, Your Pike." Write the numbers on index cards.  Put them in a pile face down.  Have your child turn them over one at a time.  If your child can read the number, it goes in his/her pile.  If not, it goes in your pile.  At the end, put a check mark on the back of each card your child knows.  Once your child has 5 check mark on the back, they've probably mastered that number.  The game goes quickly and is great to play everyday!