Weekends are a great time for families to relax and spend quality time together. For parents of preschoolers, it’s also an opportunity to incorporate learning into playtime.
However, finding activities that are both fun and educational, particularly those that help with math skills can be difficult.
To help you balance fun and learning, we’ve put together a list of five preschool math-inspired activities to include in your family weekend plan. These activities are designed to be enjoyable and to help your child develop essential math skills through play.
I Spy
“I Spy” is a classic game that can be adapted to help preschoolers develop their math skills. The game involves one person selecting an object in the environment and giving a clue about it, such as its colour, shape, or number, while the other players try to guess what the object is.
You can play “I Spy” to focus on counting and shapes. Instead of the usual “I spy with my little eye something that is…”, modify the clues to incorporate counting and shapes. For example:
- I spy with my little eye something that is a circle
- I spy with my little eye three red things
- I spy with my little eye a square object
Let your child guess what the object is based on the clue. If they guess correctly, move on to the next round. If they need help, provide additional hints to guide them.
When the game involves finding a specific number of objects, it helps preschoolers practice their counting skills. For instance, asking them to find “three red things” encourages them to count items accurately.
By focusing on shapes, the game enhances your child’s ability to identify and differentiate between various geometric forms.
Pack Your Bag
The “Pack Your Bag” game is a fun and imaginative activity that can help preschoolers develop essential math skills. This game involves packing a bag for an imaginary trip, with the child following specific instructions about what to include. It’s an excellent way to practice counting and decision-making.
Begin by telling your child about the imaginary trip. Make a list of items you would need for the trip, such as clothes, toys, books, and snacks. You can write this list down or discuss it verbally.
Ask your child to pack specific items based on quantity or type. For example:
- Can you pack three pairs of socks?
- We need two books for our trip.
- Please include one toy and four snacks.
After your child has packed the bag, go through the items together. Count them and make sure they match the instructions.
By asking your child to pack a specific number of items, they practice counting and ensure they have the correct quantity. For example, packing “three pairs of socks” helps reinforce the concept of numbers and counting.
Sorting items into categories such as clothes, toys, and snacks helps children learn to organize and classify objects. This is a fundamental math skill that is useful in many areas of learning.
Shopping List
The “Shopping List” game is an engaging activity that transforms an ordinary trip to the grocery store into a fun learning experience.
Start by creating a simple shopping list with items you need to buy. Include pictures of the items if possible to help your child recognise them easily.
Give your child the list and ask them to help you find the items in the store. You can make it more challenging by specifying the number of each item. As your child finds each item, encourage them to count and verify the quantity. Discuss the shapes, colours, and sizes of the items.
After finding each item, let your child check it off the list. This gives them a sense of accomplishment and helps them learn to follow a plan.
Puzzles
Puzzles combine fun with learning for preschoolers. This activity helps children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Puzzles come in various types and difficulty levels, making them a versatile tool for teaching math concepts in an engaging and hands-on manner.
Select puzzles that are suitable for your child’s age and skill level. Puzzles with large pieces and simple designs are ideal for preschoolers. Look for puzzles that feature shapes, numbers, or patterns to incorporate math learning.
Show your child the completed image on the puzzle box and discuss what they see. Talk about the shapes, colours, and any numbers or objects in the image. Encourage your child to sort the pieces before starting. They can group pieces by edge pieces and middle pieces or by colours and patterns.
Guide your child as they fit the pieces together, encouraging them to look for matching shapes and colours. Offer hints and support as needed, but allow them to do as much as they can on their own.
Donald in Mathmagic Land movie
Donald in Mathmagic Land is a classic Disney movie where Donald Duck explores a magical world full of math. The film tells stories that teach kids about shapes, patterns, numbers, and geometry.
Kids love watching how math is shown in “Mathmagic Land” because it makes tricky ideas easier to understand. They can see how math is used in everyday life and all around them.
The movie also makes kids curious about math. They might want to find shapes in their toys or count things they see.
After watching the movie, you can do more math activities together. Try making shapes with toys or counting things around your house. It’s a fun way to learn more about math after the movie ends.
Conclusion
Including math activities in your family weekend plan is not just fun but also helps preschoolers learn playfully.
At Oodles Learning, we believe in making math enjoyable. In our classes, we use fun games and interactive activities to teach math concepts. By engaging children with hands-on learning experiences, we help them understand and appreciate the beauty of mathematics.
These games teach important math skills like counting, recognising shapes, solving problems, and thinking critically. By making math part of everyday play, you create a fun environment where children can explore, learn, and enjoy numbers and shapes.
So, this weekend, try these math-inspired games and see how much fun your preschooler has while learning math skills for life.
