TAKE-HOME STRATEGY

Supporting Early Math for Infants at Home

Aerial view of child-sized shoes beside backpack

What It's About

Early Math for infants is all about bringing math concepts (like numbers, measurement, and shapes) into our everyday interactions and routines with very young children.

Even when we don’t realize it, infants are already using early math skills! For example, your infant may show that they want more food, may sort people by familiar and unfamiliar, or look for objects that are hidden under or behind something. You can support your infant’s Early Math skills by counting objects, pointing out patterns, or talking about the size and shape of things around them.

ACTIVITY CHOICE BOARD

Here are some ways you can support Early Math for infants at home. Keep in mind that you can change these activities to work for you and your child, based on their current abilities, interests, and what you have available at home. Make sure to use safe materials and watch your child closely during these activities.

Take a look, and try out your favorites!

What's Bigger? What's Smaller?

Play a measuring game by asking your infant which is smaller or bigger between two things, then give the answer. For example, “Time to get our shoes on. Whose shoes are bigger? Mine or yours? Mine are bigger!”

Sort and Pattern

Gather materials such as color blocks, shapes, or plastic animals. As your infant freely explores, talk about the ways they are the same and different. Also create simple color or shape patterns for them to look at.

Math in Books

As you read aloud to your infant, point out numbers, shapes, sizes, colors, and objects that are the same or different as they appear throughout the books.

Counting Songs

Sing songs or rhymes that include counting forward and backwards, such as “The Ants Go Marching” or “Five Little Ducks.” Hold up your fingers as you sing to show how many.

Spotting Shapes

During a walk or drive, point out the shapes you notice all around. For example, at a stoplight, you might point out that the traffic lights are circles. Or you may point out square and rectangular buildings.

Peek-a-Boo!

Play peek-a-boo with a towel, box, or other object. Ask your child what’s under, inside, or behind. For example, “What’s in the tissue box? Peek-a-boo! It’s a car! What’s under the towel? Peek-a-boo! It’s a bunny!”

Quick Cues for Supporting Early Math

Some things you might do or say to help strengthen your infant's Early Math skills

Encourage Infants to Sort and Notice Patterns

Offer materials to sort and that you can use to make patterns.

This can sound like:

“I see there are blue bears and red bears. I will line them up like this, red, blue, red, blue…”

“This hole in the box is for round blocks. All the round blocks can go through here.”

“Which bin is for crayons, and which bin is for markers?”

Use Measurement and Number Words

Point out how things are similar/different, how big or heavy things are, and how many objects there are.

This can sound like:

“You have more blocks than I do! You have two (point) and I have one (point).”

“This is a big bear (point) and this one is small (point).”

“You have two legs. See, one (point)… two (point)!”

Label Where Things are in Space

Talk about where things are positioned to help make spatial awareness concrete.

This can sound like:

“Where is your teddy bear? Here it is! It was under your crib.”

“Okay, I am going to put you down now. Down you go!”

“Time to clean up. I’m going to put your toys in the basket.”

Our Book Recommendations for Early Math

Engaging stories that support infants' Early Math skills
Freight Train

Freight Train

Written and illustrated by Donald Crews, this story includes a colorful sequence of train cars that lends itself to talking about color patterns, positions in space, and counting up to eight.

Have fun with it: 
Point out the shapes and colors you spot in the book and see if your infant will repeat some patterns with you! For example, point back and forth to the green and blue train cars and say “Here’s blue, green, blue, green… try it with me! Blue, green, blue…”

Up to My Knees Book Cover

Up to My Knees

Written and illustrated by Grace Lin, this book explores height and relative size as Mei plants a sunflower seed and watches it grow over time.

Have fun with it:
Compare heights around your home with your infant! Talk about how people or furniture are shorter or taller than you and your infant.

More Strategies

We’re creating a library of resources like these so families can quickly and easily promote children’s development at home. Be sure to see all the strategies we have available!

visit our take-home strategy library