Hello,

when and how did you start calculating with your children? With help Cecilie counts until 10, alone until 3 or 4. I know, that some people start very early to get them used to calculating. I am just loooking for a good way to start.

Thanks for answering,

Friederike

Math is very often a difficult concept for our kids to pick up on. Kindergarten level math is usually doing "+ 1", so adding 1 to everything. But you have to go by where she's at developmentally. Angela started with addition in kindergarten, but really didn't understand the concept until late in the 1st grade year. It just really depends on where they're at developmentally.

Also, they need to be able to count OBJECTS before jumping into adding. So have her start counting objects with 1:1 correspondence. (meaning she touches each item as she counts it.) I would first start with 3 objects, and once she can do that move onto 4 objects, etc. By the end of kindergarten they should be able to count 20 objects.

Hello Leah,

which material did you use for counting? Just anything that crossed your way or did you have special books for that?

We played shop all afternoon. Cecilie has a little wooden shop her room and she came buying one, two or three (wooden) cookies, slices of bread, books, whatever we had.

I'm with you on colors, numbers, shapes and letters. Henry is having better progress in some than others. IE Henry can identify every letter of the alphabet, most numbers, some colors, and a couple of shapes.

Henry is counting objects sometimes. But for a year now (and Henry is 4 years, 1 month), I've been counting things like every step up we ever take together or every step down together. Every time I present finger food to him, I count it out in a row (up to 10), ie saltines, cheezits, pringles, etc. When he was learning to jump from a curb (for example) with me, I would count to three and then jump. Then he would either jump next, or I would count to three and he would take his turn. If he was playing with cups, spoons, blocks, anything similar, I would count ten of them in a row.

Now, I'm sure I'm exaggerating, but I probably did one of these every day or every other day. And now I do hear him counting things off similarly to some degree of consistency. Maybe my ideas will lead into new creative ideas on your part and you'll be able to share back with me!

I didn't use any particular program or anything. I've been in special education for years and just knew what I needed to do, so we just incorporated everything into our every day life.

Once she's counting with 1:1 correspondence, then you can start "adding on". Start with adding 1.

I have one cooking. Can you give me one more? Oh....One two! now I have two cookies!

I have 2 cookies. Can you give me one more? Oh...one two three! Now I have three cookies!

we tried big buttons and wooden cookies from her little shop today. What I am looking for now are well printed or wooden numbers to learn to read numbers.

OH... I just had to say hello and I LOVE your new sig pic of beautiful Cecilie!!!

Miss you!