Babies and toddlers can start to be shown and told numbers and letters a lot earlier than generally practiced, even before they can walk or talk. With enough patience and repetition they will become progressively able to recognize different numbers and their order. Children can also learn to categorize objects and events and to make comparisons between them early on.
Because each child grows in a different environment and in the company of different individuals, it’s not possible to say precisely when each milestone will occur or when parents should start or end any learning stage. What is certain, however, is that your children can learn to count and do some basic arithmetic with a few months of practice, well before entering kindergarten, but only if you’re willing to devote enough time to this kind of activity. A process that involves figuring out which importance you give to learning numeracy for your children, and then scheduling accordingly a well balanced home math teaching program.
Image: The Rabbit – Number 8 / ChildUp.com
