Show a child how you follow a recipe step by step, and how you set the oven temperature. As children get older, they begin to learn about working for money when they do household chores for an allowance. Let children watch as you measure a door frame, or hang a picture in the center of a wall. Children can help you make a list of items you will need to complete a project, including the number of tools. Everyday activities like setting the timer on the VCR or setting the dinner table are opportunities for children to count and work with numbers.
Children keep score during store-bought games such as Sorry and dominoes.
Children may also race against the clock or measure the distance they can hit or throw a ball. Help children make neighborhood activities and sports more than just good exercise. When children pretend, they often create lifelike situations in which they may check a bus schedule, or gauge how much fuel is needed for a long car trip. Pretend play sometimes takes off from reading literature, much of which contains information about numbers and counting. Also, don't forget about math concepts involved in puzzles and blocks, both of which involve the whole child in learning.