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Mathematics.  Do you remember sitting in school and wonder why you had to learn these complicated math concepts?  I remember thinking that!  I am very privileged that Math came pretty easy for me but I still questioned why I had to learn it.  Years later when I was in a department store I saw a sale sign that said all their items were sold at 75% off.  I was did mental math without any difficulty and was able to calculate how much an item would cost without bringing out a calculator. I used my brain, initially dividing the cost of the item in half, then dividing that number and half and adding them up while subtracting it from the original retail price to find the sale price.  Confused?  Maybe to some people it seems pretty complex, but this was an experience that was meaningful to me which made me proud that I did pretty well in math!

Once you are able to relate mathematical terms to real life experiences your child will get excited about math.  One of the math theories that four year olds begin to understand is the meaning of “the same.”  You may hear him say, “I want the same as what you have.”  That might mean he wants a chocolate chip cookie instead of an oatmeal cookie.  Or he may say, “I want the same number.” He may mean he wants three biscuits because you have three biscuits.  If you both have three biscuits you have the same and if you both have chocolate cookie you have the same kind of cookie.

During your child’s daily home activities there are many chances to apply what it means to have the same number.  You can let your child experience number talk when you are serving snacks or other meals.  If you have a graham cracker you can cut it in half and be able to measure by means of stacking them on top of each other in order to show that they are the “same” amount.  When you play with toys you can be sure that each of you has the same number of manipulatives (another word for small similar items that can be handled).  You can line up the manipulatives next to each other and check visually if you have the same amount.  You are able to count if you have the same number loudly so he can hear.  Introduce the words “same” and “half” to your child.  Use math vocabulary during your daily conversations.  Let your child count whenever the opportunity arises, from going down the stairs to eating chocolates.  Each positive exposure your child has with numbers increases his confidence as he believes he is “good at math”.  Mathematical opportunities are all around you!  Keep your eyes and ears open for the next chance for number talk!