Learning Outcomes: Counting and Cardinality, Executive Functioning
Make a game of searching for magnetic numbers on the refrigerator and help your child make personal connections with the numbers.
Why It's Important
Learning to recognize numbers is not a small task! Children must first understand that these symbols have meaning and be able to observe the differences between their lines and curves. Often, children are learning about other symbols at the same time called letters and that each one has a different sound or sounds. It's a lot to take in for a person who has only been on this earth for a few years! The best way to help your child learn to identify numbers is to help make personal connections between each number and child. Think of when your child sees or says a number often, such as the child's age, the number of your house or apartment, the number on a favorite player's jersey, etc. Talk about that connection and remind your child of the name of that number. Very soon, your child will be fluently using numbers to name and describe amounts.
Not Ready Yet
If using all the numbers 0-9 is too overwhelming for your child, limit the numbers to just 1-5.
Need a Challenge
Challenge your child to create two digit numbers. For example, “My age is 27. Can you use the magnets to create the number 27? It has a two and a seven in it. Which number comes first in 27? Which number comes second?” Continue playing with other two digit numbers.
