10 Playful Ways To Learn Addition & Number Bonds!

Number Bonds and Addition

Number bonds and addition are building blocks to the basic concepts of Math. Learning to count is probably one of the first Math skill children acquire, and through that they understand relationships of quantities and their relationships to other numbers. Addition is one important application of this understanding. Children at young age need not memorise addition to master the concept of addition. They simply need a lot of manipulatives and concrete materials coupled with ‘acting out’ the process of adding to help them count summative quantities. This skill lays the foundation for mastering more complex Math concepts such as subtraction, multiplication.

We have come up with 10 playful ways to learn number bonds and addition, effortlessly and with lots of fun!!

1.   Muffin cupcakes/ paper cups, and ice-cream sticks.

Get creative and make this concrete number-bond game. To reinforce part-whole relationship, simply write “part” and “whole” on the paper cups. Then place different number of pebbles, lego blocks, marbles or beans into each part. Transfer both amounts to the “whole” cup to show the process of adding the two parts to make whole. You can ask your child to make the addition statement: 3 and 5 make 8

      

2.   Rock Dominoes

You can go for a garden walk with your child and pick up these lovely stone pebbles. Simply use correction ink or permanent white pen to draw 2 quantities of dots with a dividing line on the pebbles. Create different number combinations. Write number bonds and addition sentences with each number combination.

    

Addition Sentence 3     +       4    =      7

3. Number Dices in a Jar

Simply put 2 dices in a jar, give it a shake and you will have two numbers to make a number bond and write an addition sentence!

4.   Fish crackers

Use two small bowls or paper plates. Have your child put different number of fish crackers or biscuits. Write out the number bond and addition sentence with the numbers. The best part about this activity is eating them up!!

 5.   Clothes pins and Ice-cream sticks!

Simply write different numbers on the clothespins and create different addition sentence. Your child can practice learning how to add numbers!

6.   Lego Blocks

Write some numbers with addition symbols and ask your child to create addition sentences!

7. Ice-cream sticks and Dot stickers

Simply stick stickets dots on ice-cream sticks, choose two sticks and add the two numbers! The fast learners can learn to make mental addition and make it into a game!

8. Clothes hanger and Clothes pegs!

I saw this idea on the internet and it is really a cool way to learn addition! This home material is easily available and your child can also hone their fine motor skills by hanging the pegs on the hanger. Your child can come up with 2 different quantities to add!

9. Paper Rolls

Just cut up a toilet paper roll and write two numbers and create a whole lot of them. Ask your child to stack up two numbers on top of each other, and add!

10. Play dough and Buttons!

Play dough time is fun when your child gets to press buttons on it! Just ask your child to add up two quantities of buttons! 🙂

A Brand New Me! New Year resolutions

A brand new year has arrived! Fresh start fresh beginnings!

For our little ones, what are our thoughts and resolutions for them? What vision do we have for them in terms of character growth and development?

Character development is important and crucial in the formative years. For most of us, our values and dispositions are shaped by our upbringing and what our parents emphasized growing up. Young children are very easily influenced by the examples showed by parents and peers.

For my 3-year old preschooler, there were certainly character traits that she has grown and matured in for the past year… like learning to be more independent and responsible over her belongings. I sought to applaud and celebrate her little successes and commendable efforts, with praises, hugs and rewards. For this coming year, I believe that we can envision a ‘better me’ for our little ones. More importantly than academic and cognitive milestones, we can help them develop our children socially and holistically.

For this, I created a door hanger with clothes pegs to signify each character trait or virtue  that she wants to develop in. It serves as a visual reminder for them!

    

Remember to unpack what each value means in terms of action and thoughts! For example: Being patient means having to wait your turn and sometimes having your request fulfilled at a later time and date. Taking good care of yourself means keeping yourself clean and healthy ( brushing your teeth, bathing before bed, eating well).

   

Tips on reiterating the values:
1. Model exemplary behaviour for your child. Parents are great models for children!
2. Be quick to catch them doing right!
3. Shower them with praise, hugs and rewards! A little goes a long way and certainly helps to reinforce the positive behaviour!
4. Use visual aids like door hanger or poster to communicate the values to them.
5. Use teachable moments as opportunities to help them apply the values in real situations!

It does take a lot of patience and consistency to emphasize and inculcate good values in our little ones (I know its not easy!)

But it definitely pays off seeing them blossom and flourish into children with good character! Let this be our little resolution and vision as parents this year too!

Blessed new year! Have a great year ahead, everyone! 🙂

Lynn 🙂