Building a Foundation in Numeracy
Early childhood education is an exciting time for children, as they explore the world and begin to understand it through numbers, shapes, and patterns. Numeracy isn’t just about learning to count or recognizing numbers; it’s about developing a deep understanding of quantity, measurement, shape, and spatial relationships, which are foundational skills for future learning. At City Impact Church Preschool & Childcare, we’re committed to making numeracy learning engaging, relevant, and seamlessly woven into everyday activities. Here’s how:
Counting
Counting is one of the earliest numeracy skills children begin to develop. Through counting, children start to understand the concept of quantity. We incorporate counting into routine activities, like counting toys as they’re put away, songs at mat time, or the steps taken to reach a particular area in the playground. These simple acts of counting are enjoyable for children and help them build confidence in managing small numbers.
Exploring Measurements
Measurement introduces children to concepts like length, height, weight, and size. Through hands-on exploration, children learn how objects can be compared, sorted, and arranged based on their physical properties. Activities like sorting objects by size, using scales to weigh items, or measuring ingredients for a baking activity bring measurement to life.
Measurement tasks not only build numeracy skills but also encourage problem-solving and critical thinking. By guiding children to ask questions like, “Which object is taller?” or “How many blocks make the same height as my water bottle?” we nurture curiosity and help them begin to see relationships between objects.
Volume Exploration
Volume is a challenging yet exciting concept for young children to grasp and exploring it through sensory play is both fun and educational. Activities such as pouring water or sand into different-sized containers, or filling and emptying cups, provide a hands-on understanding of space and capacity.
Our approach encourages children to test their own theories: “Will more fit in this container?” or “How many scoops will it take to fill the jar?” Such questions lead to natural experimentation, allowing children to develop early skills in estimation, volume comparison, and even basic problem-solving as they interact with the materials around them.
Whether it’s counting the number of children sitting around the lunch table, measuring how tall they’ve grown, or recognizing shapes around the classroom, we aim to connect numeracy to real-world situations.
Our goal is to nurture children’s natural curiosity by embedding numeracy concepts in playful, engaging activities that feel both familiar and exciting. By focusing on real-life applications and encouraging exploration, we set a strong foundation for a lifelong interest in learning.
Numeracy at City Impact Church Preschool & Childcare, is more than just preparing children for math—it’s about helping them understand the world around them and fostering skills they will carry throughout life. Interested in learning about how we build essential literacy skills? Click here.
