First, make sure your child is comfortable with counting and number recognition. Trying to move a child into adding too early could confuse and frustrate the child. It is important that each child has a firm grasp of what each numeral stands for and the quantity of each number. Having a strong foundation in counting and number recognition will make adding a lot easier for you and for the child learning. Some of the everyday items you can use to teach adding include things that children like to play with any way.
Dominos are excellent addition teachers.
If you hold a domino horizontal, you can show your child the relationship to adding with the number sentence written from left to right. If you hold the domino in a vertical fashion, it is easy to teach your child how to add using the vertical method. Another great thing to use to teach adding is dice. Take turns rolling the dice and recording an addition sentence. If the child gets the addition problem correct, he or she gets another turn.