In this activity, you will help your child practice counting skills, compare amounts by using objects, and understand the concepts of “more” and “less.”
Learning Area(s):Math
MATERIALS
- Items of your choice (snack items, small blocks, cubes, buttons. etc.)
LET'S PLAY
Give your child three snack items (for example, goldfish) and put one snack item in front of yourself. Ask her, “How many goldfish do I have?” (Gently correct your child if she says the incorrect answer.) “How many goldfish do you have?” (Gently correct your child if she says the incorrect answer. Then ask, “Who has more goldfish?”
If your child doesn’t understand the word ‘more,’ she may not answer you. If that happens, say, “Yes, you have more goldfish!” Count the goldfish for her: “You have 1, 2, 3 goldfish. I only have 1.” Play a few more times with different variations of sets (1, 2, or 3 goldfish in a set).
After she has mastered the concept of “more,” play the same game and ask who has “less.” Your child can eat each set of snacks after deciding who has more and who has less!
TIPS
- A good time to help children learn how to compare quantities is during snacks or meals.
- As your child begins to understand the concept “more” with small amounts, ask her to make comparisons with larger amounts like 4, 5, etc.
- Switching between the concepts of “more” and “less” can be challenging for children. Stick with one concept at a time until they master both and are able to switch easily.