Caring for Kids is a monthly article series by early childhood education experts in Child and Family Care and Children’s Centers.
You don't need a lab coat or a calculator to help your child’s brain grow! The foundation for most of the "big" skills kids need for school can be learned right in your living room or kitchen. Christine Snyder, Director of Child and Family Care, shares:
"Developing math, science, and cognitive skills doesn't require special equipment. By modeling, planning time for interaction, and finding learning opportunities in daily routines, children can develop foundational skills in a playful way that will benefit them in the short-term and long-term".
What are Cognitive Skills?
Think of these as "brain muscles." They include memory, paying attention, and problem-solving. When a child follows a recipe or figures out how to build a tall tower of blocks without it falling, they are exercising their brain and securing concepts they will apply to future learning and navigating the world.
Math in the "Real World"
Math is much more than just numbers on a page; it is also about patterns and relationships. You can practice these skills in simple ways:
- The Laundry Room: Ask your child to find all the matching pairs of socks. This is a "matching and sorting" skill that leads to algebra later.
- The Dinner Table: Ask, "Do we have enough spoons for everyone?" This helps with "one-to-one correspondence" (matching one object to one person).
- The Grocery Store: Older children may be able to compare costs on items (name brand vs. generic) or compare the amount of an ingredient needed in a recipe and the packaged quantity at the store (32 oz = how many cans?)
Science is Just Asking Questions
Science starts with curiosity. You can practice "The Scientific Method" every day just by asking your child: "What do you think will happen if we add more water to this soap?" or "Why do you think the leaves change color?"
5 Tips to Try at Home
- Time Talk: Use a timer for brushing teeth or cleaning up. Ask, "How long do you think it will take?" It helps kids understand the concept of time.
- Kitchen Chemist: Let them help you cook! Measuring 1/2 cup of water versus 1 full cup is a great way to see fractions in action.
- Nature Scavenger Hunt: While walking, look for shapes. A stop sign is an octagon; a window is a rectangle. This builds "spatial awareness."
- Foster Curiosity: Create an environment where your child feels safe to express their questions and ideas. Validating their curiosity supports wondering, experimenting, and making new connections.
- Model Learning: Verbalize when you are looking something up on your phone or the internet. Let your children see you read or engage in a wondering conversation with another adult. When children see adults exploring and asking questions about the world around them, they learn to do the same.
Suggested Resources to Learn More
- 5 Ways to Build Math into Your Child's Day - NAEYC
- Learning Through Everyday Activities - NAEYC
- Play and Cognitive Development - Raising Children Network
