If you have toddlers at home, you know how challenging it can be to keep them occupied. You spend all day trying to entertain them and suddenly they are in that terrible twos stage and nothing is interesting to them anymore. Fortunately, there are so many ways to keep your little ones occupied. You can use math activities with toddlers as an opportunity to build their number and counting skills as well as their reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
There are so many fun ways to do this, from counting objects in the house to playing games that involve math and a little bit of strategy. Read on for some great ideas and check out the gallery below for more.
Math Activities With Toddlers
Toddlers are quite interested in numbers, shapes, and counting, so these are great ways to get them involved in math.
Play with shapes and sizes – One way to get your toddler involved in math is to explore different shapes and sizes. For example, when you are out and about, try to notice how many different types of fruit and vegetables there are. Then, when you are home, out of fruit and vegetables, notice how long it takes your toddler to notice them. Talk about the different fruits and vegetables and see if your toddler can name them – you may be surprised at how much they know!
Play with numbers – Another way to get your toddler involved in numbers is to play games with numbers. A great way to do this is to ask your toddler to give you 1-2-3, etc. from a set amount you have chosen, like one apple. Then, when you get to four apples, you ask for five, and so on. This is a great way for your toddler to learn about combinations and probability.
Counting Activities
We all know how important it is to get your toddler involved in early counting and number awareness, so these are a few ways to get them started.
Read to your toddler – Reading to your toddler each day is a great way to get them involved in early number awareness. When you read a story, try to break the reading down into smaller chunks, like one word at a time, and then five letters. This way your toddler will be able to grasp the general idea of the story much faster.
Sing songs with numbers – If your toddler is already interested in numbers, you can take it one step further and incorporate them into songs. For example, when you sing about five sweethearts, have your toddler join in on the chorus with you.
Shapes and Sorting with Blocks
You can buy different blocks for toddlers from GIGI Bloks and start sorting them with your kids.
Shape sorting is a very effective way to get your child’s attention and it also teaches them about different shapes. To sort shapes, take a block of their choosing and have them sort them into certain categories. Again, this is a great way for your toddler to learn about combinations and categories.
Sort shapes by color – If you have a more advanced shape sorter, you can try to have them sort the shapes by color. This will require your toddler to think about what the differences are between the two shapes and will be further reinforced when they put the shapes in their proper place.
Simple Games
Toddlers love puzzles and games, so here are a few you can try.
Place cards – One of the easiest games to play with your toddler is to have them place cards in order. For example, you can sit at a restaurant and have your toddler place the place cards in order on the table. This is a great way to teach your little ones how to follow directions, such as “first the lady and then the gentleman.”
Simon says – Another classic game you can play with your toddler is Simon says. In this game, you say “Simon says” and then your toddler repeats back to you. You can also have your toddler try to do things like “Simon says touch your toes” or “Simon says say your ABC’s.”
Movable Shapes
Shape sorters are a classic way to get your child’s attention and teach them about shapes. For a more advanced activity, you can try having your child’s name on a piece of paper and then have them sort the pieces using the shape’s name. This is also a great way to reinforce your child’s name.
Movable Shapes is a great app for your toddler to help with math concepts, especially numbers, shapes, and sorting. You can use this app to help your little ones learn about numbers, shapes, and more. You can even use it to improve your child’s problem-solving skills.
Matching Game
Another easy game to play with your toddler is a matching game. For example, when you are at the park, you can ask your toddler to match the birds to the trees. When you are out grocery shopping, have your toddler match the items on the aisles to their corresponding signs. This is a great way for your toddler to learn about similarities and differences.
Simple Pattern Activities
Toddlers love patterns and textures, so you can incorporate these into your math activities with them. For example, when you are out for a walk, notice the pattern in the leaves on the ground. Then, when you are home, have your toddler pick out some leaves and have them match the leaves on the ground to the leaves in the bowl. This is also a great way to teach your child about opposites, like big and small, and more.
Summing up
Math activities with toddlers are a great way to get your little ones interested in numbers, counting, and math strategies. There are so many fun ways to do this, from exploring shapes, to playing games that involve numbers and a little bit of strategy.
You can also incorporate reading into your math activities with toddlers to get them interested in numbers and counting even earlier.
