Search
The kindergarten years are the perfect time to put your little one on the path to enjoying math for life. Let’s look at why early math is important, some of the best options for curriculum, and how to have fun along the way.
According to research published in ScienceDirect, a long-term study conducted with children starting at age 5 suggests that cultivating executive functioning at an early age helps the brain develop greater capacity in areas of the brain responsible for planning, organizing, memory, goal setting, and self-control, among other beneficial characteristics. Using a sequential, incremental, individualized, mastery-based math curriculum like All About Math, along with hands-on activities (like sorting and matching socks!) helps build executive functioning skills. Those are the very skills needed to excel at higher-level academics.
Providing your kindergartener with a fun, multisensory math program isn’t just about numbers; it’s about setting the foundation for their future.
An effective kindergarten math curriculum doesn’t need to be a lot of work. It can be fun, brief, 20-minute lessons that help them explore how numbers and patterns work.
Here are the core concepts of math that kindergarteners learn:
Check out this great article on counting principles for a more in-depth explanation, plus ideas for building counting skills:
Counting: There’s More to It
When selecting a kindergarten math curriculum, look for one that prioritizes a multisensory approach, as well as explicit instruction, to ensure there are no gaps or assumptions that a concept is understood.
Like our All About Reading and All About Spelling programs, All About Math is based on many of the same proven principles of the Orton-Gillingham approach.
All About Math includes:
Tip: Don’t hesitate—explore All About Math Level 1 and get a free sample of the teacher’s manual and student activity book.
Young kids learn math best when they can touch, build, move, and explore. Lay the foundation for formal learning later by matching numbers on playing cards, grouping socks by color, or counting the number of forks to put on the dinner table. It is this multisensory approach that proves so effective in building the physical brain structures that facilitate better academics in later years.
Program links for convenience:
All About Math Level 1 • Manipulatives Kit
Most 4 to 5-year-olds should be able to identify numbers up to 20, count backward from 10, count and relay the number of objects, understand “one more” and “one less,” and grasp basic addition and subtraction. However, abilities vary widely at this age.
No. Many families use a mix of games, printables, and daily life (cooking, cleaning, nature walks). But you want to start building that foundational brain structure early, so a curriculum like All About Math can be helpful.
Some children are not ready for math lessons at this age. If your child can follow multi-step directions, has an attention span of at least 10 minutes, can focus on playing a game or working a puzzle, and can count to 5, they have most of the foundational skills necessary to start a formal math curriculum. Check our math readiness assessment for more help.
Aim for 4 to 5 short sessions a week. But remember, math happens everywhere! Sorting socks, counting steps, measuring flour—it all counts!
Daniela
says:You always have such great ideas! I love that your programs have many hands-on games. As a mom of 5 boys, this is amazing! So far I have used AAR for three of my boys with great success and now I’m excited to try the math for our Kindergartener this year! I always appreciate the blog posts that have extra ideas.
Robin E. Williams
says: Customer ServiceDaniela,
It sounds like the multisensory activities and games in our programs are a huge success with your children!!!
Shannon Morison
says:How important is writing the numbers for moving on from AAM1? My son is almost done with the program and has passed most of the skills except that he still can’t write most of his numbers. He can use the number cards to make equations and trace numbers if I write them first, but he doesn’t even want to copy numbers. He is still 4, so I haven’t been pushing him on the handwriting front, but I don’t really want to hold him back either since his math skills are quite good.
Robin E. Williams
says: Customer ServiceGreat question, Shannon.
In this situation, I think it’s fine to move on from AAM 1, continuing using the Number Cards and doing math orally.
However, I also recommend setting aside a time each day to build his handwriting abilities. At 4 years old, that means doing things that strengthen the muscles and coordination needed for handwriting, not necessarily doing actual handwriting.
Incorporate kinesthetic practice, such as writing with a finger in sand, salt trays, cornmeal, whipped cream, on carpet squares or sandpaper, in snow, etc. Write numbers and letters on the whiteboard and then have your son finger erase them, following proper letter strokes. These types of activities will reinforce the neurological connections needed for handwriting, and will make the motions more memorable. Here’s another article that has some additional ideas you can use for handwriting practice.
Make sure to incorporate lots of large-muscle play in his day too, such as running, jumping, climbing, swinging, anything that strengthens core muscles and gross motor skills. These are incredibly important to handwriting. Many people think of handwriting as a fine motor activity, but the trunk muscles that hold the body up so kids don’t lean on their arms as they write and the shoulder and arm muscles that control arm movements are really important too.
Mazes, dot-to-dot, coloring, Lego, playing with cars, cutting, pasting, painting, etc. are good for reinforcing fine-motor skills needed.
If you don’t have a program yet, check out Handwriting Without Tears. That curriculum was developed by an occupational therapist, so it is developmentally appropriate at each level.
Danielle Bayliss
says:My son just turned 5 and he’s picked up some of these concepts without explicit teaching. Buy all the fun math manipulatives and simple math games and your child may begin to explore the concept naturally through play.
Robin E. Williams
says: Customer ServiceSo true, Danielle! Many children learn a lot of foundational skills in math and other subjects through play and natural interactions with adults.