Best way to teach my 5 year old son math

3 replies·2mon ago(edited)

Erica Yager

·2mon ago

Best way to teach my 5 year old son mathErica Yager

My son is 5 and in Kindergarten, and I’m starting to notice he’s a bit behind in math. He’s struggling with basic number concepts... things like number recognition beyond 10, counting accurately, and understanding simple addition or subtraction. He can count to 20, but sometimes skips numbers or gets confused, and when we try to practice addition, he just doesn’t seem to grasp the idea of combining numbers yet.

I want to make sure he’s not falling behind too early (I know I may be stressing over this way too early) I’ve tried some simple counting games and using toys to help him visualize numbers, but it doesn’t seem to be clicking yet... I want to help him build confidence and make sure he’s ready for what comes next in school, without overwhelming him or making him frustrated 😬

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

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Adi Ackerman

·2mon ago(edited)

Adi Ackerman

·2mon ago(edited)

Hey Erica! First off, I totally get why you’re feeling this way, but try not to stress too much - every child learns at their own pace, especially at this age..... Since he’s just starting out, keep focusing on making it fun and hands-on. Here are a few ideas to get you started 😊

Play with everyday objects: Count things around the house—snacks, toys, or even steps as you walk.
Make a number line: Grab some paper and make a number line up to 20. Let him use it as a tool when counting or doing simple addition/subtraction. It’s a great visual aid! Here's a great worksheet you can use.
Story-based math: Create simple stories that involve adding or taking away items. For example, "If Spiderman catches 3 bad guys and then catches 2 more, how many did he catch in total?"

The fact that you’re so engaged already is a huge win... and he’ll catch on with time! 😊

www.classweekly.com/worksheet/counting-using-number-linesCounting and number lines - Bird | Worksheet | ClassWeekly.comWorksheet instructions: Count the birds, and answer the questions that follow.

Erica Yager

·2mon ago

Erica Yager

·2mon ago

Thanks so much @Adi Ackerman! Will definitely try these..! and maybe try not to stress too much about it 😅

Diane Sanders

·2mon ago

Diane Sanders

·2mon ago

Agreed! My daughter had a tough time keeping up with subtraction... but I realized she just needed to work at her own pace and build her understanding step by step. I never forced any extra work, and tried to make any math related work fun (which can be difficult to do lol)... but eventually it did the trick!