Preschool Math Skills

These preschool math skills will ensure a solid mathematical foundation for your child without boring them to tears! Math should be fun, simple, and engaging in the early years and it definitely doesn’t need to take up a whole lot of time.

$preschool hands playing with numbers emphasizing a hands on approach to math$

Every state is different when it comes to requirements for homeschooling, but no state has regulations about the preschool years so don’t worry about using a formal curriculum or keeping any formal records. Just have fun!

The skills below will make sure your preschooler establishes a solid foundation in math by having fun- NOT by being drilled with flashcards. The best foundation you can give a child in mathematics is one where the subject is introduced as something fun, satisfying, and useful!

Learn to count from 1 to 100.

Numerical order is essential to mathematic literacy, and counting is where kids learn that numbers have an order. They also learn that each number has a name.

Practice counting from 1 to 10, then do it backwards! Work your way up to 100 by adding 10 each time you introduce a new batch of numbers. Then have the child practice starting from a random spot. For example, ask the child to count to 45 starting at 29.

$open school bus egg carton for cool math game$

Check out these other fun ways to practice counting:

Understanding what the numbers 1 to 100 mean.

Somewhere along the way, children also need to learn that each number represents a value. After all, a number is more than just a word! To help children with this concept, use counters when it’s time for counting practice. Dried beans, buttons, or even some rocks from the yard will work perfectly!

Talk about what happens when you add one or take one away. Use phrases such as “greater than” or “less than” to help children feel comfortable using a mathematical vocabulary.

If you’re interested in giving your older preschooler a bit of formal practice with understanding numerical value, check out these worksheets:

Practice skip-counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s.

Once a child has a good grasp on counting and understanding that the numbers have value, skip-counting comes pretty naturally. And the really amazing thing about skip-counting is that it lays a great foundation for understanding multiplication later on!

We prefer to teach the kids to skip by 10s, then by 5s, and by 2s last. The order really doesn’t matter though! 10s all end in zero and that makes them pretty easy to pick up.. that’s the only reason why we start there. Here’s a printable older preschoolers might enjoy doing with help: Missing Number & Skip Counting Practice Sheets

Use everyday opportunities to teach math.

I probably should have started with this because it’s SO vital to a healthy foundation in math. Help your child understand that math is everywhere around them! It’s as simple as having a conversation about the tasks we do all the time:

Counting the produce as you pick it at the store (or from the garden!)
Weighing produce at the store
Counting how many seconds it takes for the light to turn green
Talking about prices and which things cost more/cost less
Counting toys or books when it’s time to clean up

And those are just a few examples! Pay attention as you go about your day and you’ll notice there are plenty of opportunities to chat about math.

P.S. If you’re looking at homeschooling for Kindergarten and/or beyond, we think that The Well-Trained Mind is an excellent resource for planning what your child should be learning each year!

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Preschool Math Skills