Math manipulatives every preschooler needs

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I’ve already shared that we don’t take a textbook approach for early mathematical education. Instead, our slow, steady build up focuses on games, activities, and a whole lot of real life.

Does that mean that we pull out Candy Land once a week, count forks as we set the table, and call it good?

Not even close.

To build mathematical thinking, our littles spend a reasonable chunk of every day diving into pre-planned “learning environments” that are really just opportunities to play with their growing numeracy and computation skills. The best part?

They have no idea that they’re learning.

A huge part of this is my overall attitude in presenting the materials (“Hey, guys! I have this awesome game I want to play with you. But only great listeners who pick up their toys, put them away, and join us at the table get to play!”). Another part is keeping things fresh; I may do an activity two days in a row if it’s such a big hit that they are bubbling over with excitement about it long after it gets put away, but more often than not, things are rotated out for a good three weeks or more.

But really, the main thing, the number one reason my kids love math is that I have purposefully, thoughtfully curated a collection of the coolest, most versatile math manipulatives available to homeschoolers.

I’m not dissing dried garbanzo beans and colored rocks. Those things have their place as counters and are definitely part of our arsenal. But when I say “manipulative” I’m thinking of the things that do double, triple, even quadruple duty … and are educational playthings in their own right.

So what makes the cut in our house?

UNIFIX CUBES Without a doubt, these are the number one math tool you’ll find in rotation here. While they break our “plastic-free” rule (Birdie has to use them while wearing cotton gloves), they are just so darn useful, and I have yet to find a plastic option that accomplishes half of what these babies do. Patterning, counting, calculating area, constructing swords for slaying dragons … if you don’t have a big box of unifix cubes in every color of the rainbow, you are missing out. There are tons of ideas for using Unifix cubes available. There are also books (Mathematics with Unifix Cubes, Early Pattern Cards, and Mathematics Activities for Homeschooling with Unifix Cubes are examples) to get you started, as well as extension activities like. Ten Frame Trains and Unifix 100 Track. Try a few, then get creative and see what you and your children cook up!

WOOD PATTERN BLOCKS Please don’t tell my kids that these are not actually toys. They simply adore it when I print out templates to help them build elaborate animals, and can’t get enough of trying to break real-life objects down into simple shapes so that they can make 2D representations on the kitchen table. We build letters, we practice symmetry, we have fun. (You can also buy template cards.)  I got a massive ziplock bag full for $8 at a used curriculum store 4 years ago, and every time I go back, I look for more. So far,no luck. But the day I find them … Oh, boy.

POM POMS The Dollar Store sells bags of these little multi-colored craft balls in mixed sizes, and I snap them up. Toddlers use them to learn colors and develop fine motor skills by sorting into trays. Older children practice using spoons for coordination, counting or mastering the fine art of tongs and chopsticks. I find more ideas every time I hit pinterest. For a buck a bag, you can’t beat the value here.

 DICE Not just for playing games, rolling a few dice teaches little ones one-to-one counting thanks to those handy dots, teaching matching, and so much more. Do yourself a favor and buy more than two– many more than two. As a matter of fact, invest in a Tenzi game, and know that you’ve just built the foundation for your child’s numeric literacy. You’ll have color-coded dice in sets of ten, a little booklet that outlines a game the adults in the house will love, and can now tap into tons of cool pinterest activities with your littles. Expansion cards are available as well. (Also, look for die that have written numbers as well as dots. They expand your opportunities.)

Having these items on hand will guarantee that you can build  library of learning activities that will stay fresh, entertaining, and flexible … while helping your littles to pick up mathematical thinking painlessly!