Preschool Math, Homeschooling, and FUN!
Learning Through Play and Laying a Mathematical Foundation With Preschool and Grade School Children
Play-Based Math
Too often, children come to see math as boring or “too hard.” And too often, we adults unintentionally reinforce that idea. When children hear things like, “I hated math in school,” or “Math was my worst subject,” it plants a seed of anxiety before they’ve even begun. But what if we flipped the script? What if, instead of drills and dread, we introduced math as play? What if math were fun from the very start?
Young children naturally learn through play, through movement, storytelling, creativity, and curiosity. The great news is: math is already everywhere in their world. As homeschool parents, our job is to help them see math in their everyday lives.
From the repetition of counting songs to the patterns of petals on a flower (hello, Fibonacci!), math is woven into God’s creation. If you’re tempted to pull out worksheets for your preschooler, take a deep breath, put them aside, and get ready to play instead.
1. Math Is More Than Memorization
When we think of math, many of us picture flashcards and times tables. And, those can have a place in your home as littles tend to enjoy memorization. However, real math is so much broader. It includes patterns, logic, comparison, sorting, and spatial reasoning.
By exploring math through play, children build confidence and excitement around the subject long before they encounter formal instruction. They learn to think mathematically without even realizing it, because it’s fun!
A child who feels successful matching socks or building a block tower is a child who’s building real math skills.
2. Everyday Moments That Teach Math
Your home is already a math-rich environment. No fancy curriculum needed. Consider these simple, everyday moments:
- Count stairs as you climb
- Sort laundry by size or color
- Measure ingredients while baking cookies
- Set the table with one-to-one correspondence: one plate, one cup, one fork per person
Each of these small interactions is a mini math lesson disguised as family time.
3. Games and Toys That Build Math Skills
Math toys don’t have to come from a school supply catalog. Many classic games you already own teach essential concepts, such as number sense, sequencing, and logical thinking. A few family favorites include:
- Hi Ho! Cherry-O and Chutes & Ladders for early counting
- UNO and playing cards for number comparison and matching
- Dominoes for patterns and addition
- LEGOs and building blocks for geometry and problem-solving
- Puzzles to promote spatial reasoning
Turn game night into math night, and your children won’t even notice they’re learning.
4. Movement + Math = Success
Young children learn best when their whole bodies are involved. Try adding movement to math time:
- Get out the chalk and create a hopscotch game using numbers or shapes
- Go on a math scavenger hunt around the house or yard: “Find something shaped like a triangle!” or “Bring me three red toys.”
- Sing and dance to counting songs like Five Little Monkeys or This Old Man
You’ll reinforce math vocabulary and concepts while burning off energy. A win-win!
5. Creative Play with Math Concepts
Don’t underestimate the power of pretend or art for teaching math. Children can:
- Draw shapes or make number collages with stickers and markers
- Open a pretend store with real coins, price tags, and shopping lists
- Build towers with blocks and count or pattern the pieces
These types of play activities promote problem-solving and reinforce the idea that math is an integral part of everyday life, not just something done on paper.
6. Read-Alouds That Inspire Math Thinking
Literature is a powerful tool for exploring mathematical ideas. If you love snuggling up with a good picture book, try these titles that naturally build math skills:
- Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 by Bill Martin Jr.
- Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
- The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
- Anno’s Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
- Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature by Sarah & Richard Campbell
For more math-themed read-alouds, check out my book For the Love of Literature and Phillip Campbell’s recent article:To Math Through Literature.
7. Let Go of Perfection and Embrace Play
Math in the early years doesn’t need to be perfect or structured. It just needs to be joyful. If your preschooler mixes up numbers or skips a step while counting, that’s okay!
Your job is to spark curiosity, not demand mastery. With a light heart and lots of laughter, you’re creating a safe space where learning can flourish. Remember: it’s more important that your child enjoys math than masters it at age five.
New Online Grade School Math Classes
Looking to the future, hoping for a structured math program that’s still engaging and joyful? Homeschool Connections now offers exciting new LIVE and recorded math courses specifically designed for 3rd- and 4th-grade students, with more grade levels planned for the future.
These courses are built around the MEP (Mathematics Enhancement Programme), a comprehensive, immersive curriculum that helps students become truly fluent in math, not by drilling, but by doing. In this British-based program (adapted for U.S. homeschoolers), children learn by solving real problems, developing their own strategies, and building reasoning skills they’ll use for years to come.
- No tedious drills—just meaningful math challenges
- Four-day weekly schedule with no extra homework
- Focus on flexibility, efficiency, and accuracy
- Interactive LIVE classes and zero textbook cost
Whether your child finds math frustrating or is simply bored with the same old routine, this innovative approach nurtures confidence and competence. Come see how fun and fulfilling math can be!
You can learn more about the upcoming LIVE courses for the 2025.2026 school year HERE. Note that these courses will also be available as recorded, self-paced courses in October through our Unlimited Access program.
Conclusion: Laying the Groundwork for a Lifelong Love of Math
As you nurture your little one’s curiosity and confidence in math, remember that your attitude matters just as much as the activities. Try to avoid saying things like “I hate math” or “I was never good at this,” even in passing. Instead, look for the beauty in math right alongside your child: the symmetry in a flower, the rhythm of a song, the joy of solving a puzzle together. When you approach math with wonder and positivity, you give your child the freedom to fall in love with learning, and that’s a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Early math should be gentle, joyful, and full of wonder. Whether you’re counting socks or building castles, know that these playful moments are laying a solid foundation for future studies. So relax, have fun, and trust the process. You’re doing beautiful, meaningful work, math and otherwise, right at your kitchen table.
Want more ideas and support? Join me and other homeschooling parents in the Homeschool Connections Facebook Group or in the HSC Community to continue the conversation.
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