Mathematics is an exact science and is not easy for everyone. That is why mathematical preparation should begin as early as possible. In the modern world, the formation of elementary mathematical concepts begins in kindergarten.

What should a 5-6 year old child know in mathematics?

A 5-6 year old child should already have some mathematical concepts. Then, when entering primary school, he will more easily adapt to the workload.

Mathematics classes at preschool educational institutions

The list of what a child should know includes:

• counting within the first ten and numbers from 1 to 10;
• addition and subtraction signs, equality, “greater than” and “less than” symbols;
• generalization and comparison by magnitude;
• writing and composition of numbers (from 0 to 10);
• know the shapes square and circle, be able to evenly divide them into two and four component parts;
• know the countdown;
• distinguish between concepts - center, left, right and other spatial terms;
• have an idea of ​​the seasons;
• distinguish geometric shapes;
• know the concept of “month”, be able to determine the time of day (not in detail);
• know the days of the week;
• correctly name numerals, names of figures, numbers.

Children studying shapes in the garden

Mathematics for children 5-6 years old should be exciting. That is why tasks are carried out in a playful way. Increasingly, active, playful and demonstrative methods of teaching preschool children are being used. The lesson can be taught using didactic games, various cards and special coloring books. Having fun is half the success!

Educational cards

Educational cards can come in special sets, or can be printed on a regular sheet of paper. You can print both your own cards and ready-made versions, and you can watch them on TV online. At this age, tasks on cards help to study previously covered topics, such as geometric shapes and spatial quantities, in more detail.

The purpose of such cards is to develop attentiveness, thinking, and memory. While working on them, the preschooler trains logic and the ability to generalize, distinguish and group objects.

The cards themselves can have various variations. For example, have different colors and shapes. The teacher can easily ask the children to sort them by shape. For example, put the squares in one pile.

1. The teacher explains what the figure looks like, voices its distinctive features and outlines it visually. Children are asked to select named shapes from a stack of cards and set them aside.
2. The teacher quickly shows the cards to the kids, and the kids must say out loud what figure they were given.
3. The presenter shows a card with the required form. The kids' task is to look around and find objects in the room that have a similar shape. For example, a curtain on a window has the shape of a rectangle.
4. The presenter shows identical figures on the cards and asks the children to find the extra ones. The guys must quickly cope with the task.

If necessary, cards can be used both individually and for the whole group. If the cards are used collectively, a competitive moment appears, which stimulates children to healthy competition. Undoubtedly, cards provide the proper level of teaching and help to educate the child efficiently.

Logic puzzles and educational games

Mathematics for children 5-6 years old includes logic puzzles and didactic games. In the process of learning them, children develop logical thinking, this helps develop the structuring of information.

Math exercises with a ball

Challenges can help develop a competitive spirit. In general, they help to conduct a fun, non-boring lesson and interest the children. In the process, the children will learn to solve simple problems and will be able to learn the concepts of numbers and quantities.

Examples in mathematics for children 5-6 years old:

1. The teacher uses cards to build a number series, but misses one of the numbers; the children must find which one. For example, "two".
2. The presenter calls the number and asks the children to name one more number. So, if the leader calls the number “five,” the children should say “six.” The mechanism can be used in both directions.
3. The teacher throws a ball to the child and asks a question. The preschooler must answer correctly and throw the ball back to the teacher.

Note! There are quite a few variations of ball games. The ball adds variety to the task. The main thing is to set tasks on a mathematical topic within the limits of the children’s knowledge. You can change the condition, and the guys will pass the ball to each other.

Any questions can be used as problems. They don't have to be very complicated.

Sample sample with questions:

• How many paws do two kittens have?
• What shape does the step have?
• How many neighbors does the number 5 have?
• How many ears does a dog have?
• How many items of clothing is the child wearing?

For puzzles, you can use any objects that the kindergarten has. These can be toys, tables, chairs and other items.

Math coloring pages

What child doesn't love to color? Everyone knows about the positive impact of skill on fine motor skills. But, besides this, mathematical coloring books have other benefits. In this coloring book, tasks alternate with coloring by numbers. Alternation of activities has a positive effect on the child; the brain stores more information received.

Math activities with coloring pages

There are also coloring books that simply color by number. As a result, the baby gets a beautiful color picture.

There is also a type of coloring book where you need to color a specified number of geometric shapes. This allows you to teach your baby to count.

The coloring book consists of mini-tasks. Having given the correct answer, the child will be able to beautifully color the picture. The coloring book features any characters that are interesting to the child.

When conducting classes, the teacher must look at the child’s real capabilities. The introductory part must be carried out carefully, properly dosing the load. A child's brain will be overloaded if, upon arrival at kindergarten, he is immediately forced to study.

The teacher can use for his benefit both a methodological manual and various literature for preschool children, use training programs or other useful additional material.

Activities must be appropriate for the child's age. The terms of the assignment must be clear and understandable. You definitely need to interest the baby.

Advice! It is better to alternate and change both the classes themselves and the methods of conducting them.

The child should not be too tired or overexerted. You should not help the preschooler too much, but if he does not understand the question, then it is necessary to explain where the error is.

Classes must be held on an ongoing basis. If the topic is difficult and is not very easy for the children, you can create an additional incentive, for example, sweet prizes.

At the end of the lesson, you must definitely find positive aspects in the work of each student, find something to praise all the guys for. Such activities are sure to be crowned with success.

Praising a child for a successful activity

Methodological material

The modern education system gives teachers a large number of opportunities. The main goals of the classes are to teach the child competently, instill the basics of physical education, develop logical thinking and counting skills. At the same time, the child will gain many additional skills.

The teacher must work according to the methods recommended by the Federal State Educational Standard (FSES). Preschool education is carried out throughout the year, but the summer period is an exception. In the summer, you can use regular didactic games to reinforce previously studied topics.

Important! The duration of lessons must be respected.

It is advisable to conduct the lesson in the morning, in the first half of the day. At this time, the guys are at the peak of mental activity and are not yet tired.

The main methods you can use are demonstration, didactic games, oral and modeling methods. These methods are basic, but it is permissible to use other established pedagogical techniques.

For mathematics, the availability of objects and visual aids is very important. Despite the fact that the main work is aimed at a collective result, if necessary, the teacher can use individual types of classes.

Teachers, in addition to basic teaching techniques, use various teaching aids.

The most commonly used are 2 specially designed manuals:

1. “One is a step, two is a step” by Peterson;
2. “Mathematics for children 5-6 years old” by Kolesnikova.

Both publications are supported by the educational program and the Ministry of Education. The second option is used in addition to a preschooler’s notebook from the “Math Steps” series.

The advantage of the tasks is that they are designed specifically for children 5-6 years of age. Their use is possible both in the garden and at home. If desired, any parent can use them together with their child and help the baby's development.

Note! Mathematics is the queen of the exact sciences, but even little ones can be taught basic math.

The sooner the baby receives the simplest knowledge about this subject, the faster he learns about the world around him. The main thing is to choose a moment when the baby is in a great mood and give information in measured portions.

Math assignments for 6 year old children in pictures

In order for a 6-year-old child to develop himself in the field of mathematics, it is necessary to correctly prepare the task for him. Here it would be good to know the child’s temperament and feel his character. You should also be prepared for the fact that you need to start teaching your child from the very basics. It is advisable that a 6-year-old child has already learned to count to 20. And can solve simple mathematical problems with numbers up to 10. The child also needs to develop an understanding of the calculations “addition”, “subtraction”, “more-less-equal”. By age 7, children can already count and compare tens. You can test your child’s knowledge and expand his mathematical knowledge at home; here are examples of tasks in pictures for 6-year-old children in mathematics.

Learning to count

Exact score: Ask your child how many footballs, basketballs, handballs, and tennis balls there are in the picture. And if your son or daughter doesn’t know a certain sport, be sure to tell them and find pictures on this topic. Expand your horizons.

Count to 20: count from 1 to 20. Say each number out loud and point with your finger to find out where the magic path leads. Look, what number comes after 12? Which one comes before 17? What numbers are between 13 and 16, 17 and 19?

Explain that a number, when written, can have one digit (single digit number) or two digits (double digit number). To learn how to count quickly, you need to learn the names of numbers from 1 to 20 and the names of tens. And in the future, simply add to the tens the numbers already familiar to you from 1 to 9.

It is important, when teaching a child to count to 30 and beyond, to pay attention and correctly name the previous and subsequent numbers in a series.

Counting to 30: count, moving your finger, from 1 to 30. Look, what number comes after 20? What number comes before 28?

Learning tens: when there are few objects, we can count them one by one 1-10. But if there are a lot of objects, it is more convenient to count by tens, which means combining them into groups of 10. If there are 10 apples in a pile, that’s 1 dozen, and if there are 2 times 10 apples, that is, 20 apples are 2 dozen.

More, less, equal

Look at the picture and answer the questions: how many girls are there in the class? how many boys? Who are more, boys or girls? How many people are in the class (including the teacher)? How many students hung their backpacks on the back of their chairs? How many chairs do you see in the picture? What more, chairs or backpacks?

Solving problems and examples

simple examples of addition in pictures

If your 6-year-old child copes with these tasks easily, gradually make the tasks more difficult. Try subtracting.

Examples in mathematics for children 6 years old

We learn to create examples of addition and subtraction and develop logical thinking and graphic skills. Example cards can be printed.

Quests for smart people

Solve the examples, see where the boy Petya made a mistake, find the wrong answers

The first tasks for those children who have never encountered mathematical problems before in their lives must be given gradually. If your baby doesn’t even know numbers, start classes with tasks for children 3-5 years old. And you need to start with the most basic examples. This can be addition and subtraction within 5. Counting sticks are perfect for this purpose. It is necessary to present the principle of addition and subtraction in such a way that he can understand the basic essence of any mathematical operations.

However, before this, it is very important to teach your child to count to at least 10. If he has not mastered this yet, then it is too early to prepare any math assignments for him.
In order for children to learn to count well, as well as subtract and add, you can prepare thematic posters that colorfully depict any objects that are close to their perception. For boys, such objects can be cars, toy soldiers, airplanes, for girls - dolls, elements from dishes, dolls or other things that they often play with.

Tasks for children whose age does not exceed 6 years must be constructed very carefully. Here, in addition to studying mathematical fundamentals, a playful form of mastering the material should also be traced. After all, if mathematics tasks are selected for them in a dry and uninteresting manner, it will be very difficult for young children, given their restlessness, to master the necessary information.

A creative approach from adults when composing mathematical problems for the youngest members of the family can be pictures that depict their children's favorite cartoon characters. This is how you can interest a child in a math lesson and create an additional incentive for him to comprehend the basics of addition or subtraction. For example, if the picture shows the famous cartoon characters Chip and Dale. And so, through a poster, they set a task for the children: how much will it add up 2 apples that Chip has with 3 apples that Dale has? And children begin to think about how to help their favorite characters resolve their dilemma.

Of course, in order to correctly create a task for children aged 6 years, you need to have not only ingenuity, but also be creative in this matter. But we should not forget that teaching the basics of mathematics to a child is not an easy task, requiring considerable diligence and patience from an adult!

Mathematics for children 6 years old, video

Mathematical games are highly visual. At the same time, the child naturally develops abstract thinking about numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Familiar characters, colorful design and clear examples from life teach the child the beginnings of analysis, comparison and comparison of objects in mathematics. And the words counting, addition, subtraction and multiplication will never scare your child again.
Much knowledge in preschool age is not easy for a child. But, perhaps, it is especially difficult to teach a child mathematical games. Since this happens for a child with certain difficulties, it is important not to scare him away from mathematics altogether. This means that getting to know the queen of sciences, “mathematics,” should take place in an exciting format.
Psychologists know: everyone, even the most restless child, can be interested and captivated. For example, special educational mathematical games for preschool children aged 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 years will allow creating a positive atmosphere of such acquaintance. Spending time with them, the child will, without noticing it, become familiar with numbers, simple techniques for operating with numbers, and will begin to clearly understand the concept of “more and less.”
When solving arithmetic problems, the child is motivated by the fact that he definitely wants to find the correct answer. Every correct decision is a small victory, and therefore is a reward in itself. For him, this is a habitual gaming activity, during which new knowledge is unconsciously stored. Information is obtained latently, in an entertaining format. This means that the child does not need to be forced to learn new material. And this applies not only specifically to mathematical knowledge. A young explorer is born in whom natural curiosity will not be drowned out.
The free section "Math Games" is perfect for your child if you want to improve his knowledge of mathematics. These games are aimed at knowing numbers. This educational section in the form of educational games will definitely please your child.
In the “Online Math Games” section, a child will be able to learn to count to 10, name numbers correctly, and will also be able to solve some mathematical examples: addition, subtraction, or even multiplication and division. In the examples, several answer options will be given, from which he will have to choose the correct one.
The games in this section are aimed primarily at teaching the child. You won't find any entertaining games here. We recommend combining educational games with entertaining ones. After each completed material, turn on something for him to relax, so he won’t get bored and will work much harder with the learning games. Learning numbers is not an easy process, so your little one may need help or guidance at a certain level of difficulty. Don’t be lazy and sit with your child to solve these math problems. This will greatly help your child master numbers much faster. Also, you should not allow your child to sit at the computer for too long; this also applies to the learning process with the help of special games. The child should take a ten-minute break after every 40 minutes of classes.

Greetings to all readers of my blog. Mathematics for preschoolers is a very broad concept. Let's first talk about the stages of development of preschool children and understand what activities are suitable for each age. Then I'll share with you some fun activities that are easy to make yourself. I will share a wonderful math game that you can download. And I will give my feedback on the notebooks with examples that my child uses.

All photos in the article enlarge when you click on them

The ages of preschoolers are, of course, different, and the capabilities in mathematics of a three-year-old child will be very different from those of a five-year-old. You can change everything that will be described in this article to suit your child’s level.

Preschool age is the stage of mental development of a child in the age range from 3 to 7 years. Within its framework, three periods are distinguished:

1. junior preschool age - from 3 to 4 years;
2. average preschool age - from 4 to 5 years;
3. senior preschool age - from 5 to 7 years.

All parents know that the more interesting the learning is, the more the child understands from it. Mathematics is not easy for everyone, so it is in this subject that you should pay attention to interactive classes. It doesn’t matter if these are games, tasks, logical tasks, you need to try to make sure that they are carried out in a form that is interesting for a preschooler. To get your child ready for an activity, you can spend a fun physical education session with him.

Entertaining game - Cooking pancakes

I'll start with a game that was a great success with my son, now he is 4 years 11 months old. It took me 10 minutes to prepare the material.

I needed:

• Thick cardboard;
• marker;
• scissors;
• an object that helps to draw a circle;
• kitchen spatula.

I took a piece of cardboard from the box, which I cut into circles. These are our pancakes, I even gilded their edges with a marker. I wrote examples on the front side and answers on the back side. The child is asked to prepare delicious pancakes for his mother, but they will only be tasty if he names the correct answer.

I was an active participant in this entertaining math game and, of course, I reacted strongly to the quality of the prepared pancakes. I will say that while watching the child, I realized another skill that is being practiced here. My preschooler did not immediately succeed in turning the pancakes over with a kitchen spatula. Be sure that this fun game also develops coordination.

After all the pancakes were ready, Alexander decided to continue the game according to his own rules. He took the rest of the box and told me it was my plate. Using a kitchen spatula, the child carefully transferred all the pancakes to an imaginary plate. Then mom had to eat them. This is where I discovered my son’s memory! He suggested trying each circle, calling it by a different name.

- Mom, this is kulebyaka with rice, meat and a little fried onion. And this is baba with chocolate sauce.

And so with all 12 mugs that I was invited to try. The interesting thing is that the child never ate the dishes he named. He learned about them from the books we read and from English or French classes.

Fun activities on the math board

Having seen this video on YouTube, I really wanted to do something similar, and I was not mistaken! My son found this kind of math very interesting.

I had a board that was purchased for working with plasticine, but was not used for its intended purpose. Its color is brown and I decided not to paint it with black paint. Preparing the game took 5 minutes.

I needed:

• Thin board;
• hammer;
• stationery carnations;
• chalk;
• stationery erasers.

As you can see in the photo, we used this board many, many times. At first I wrote examples only for addition, then only for subtraction, then I began to alternate them.

Mathematics for preschoolers with a board, as well as with the game of pancakes, has enormous potential. In both cases, the mother can write examples based on her own child’s level of knowledge. The board can be easily used with two children - erased, wrote for the second. In addition to mathematical abilities, we train fine motor skills with rubber bands and nails. And the most important thing is that learning takes place in an entertaining way and the child enjoys it.

Entertaining tasks – Collect a flower

My son really loves stationery carnations. After making the board described above, I realized that the child’s interest would be even greater if he had to stick the nails in himself. Having already practiced such activities, I took a piece of polystyrene foam; it does not leave marks from the tip and can be used many times. It took 15 minutes to make the material.

I needed:

• Colored paper;
• a piece of foam;
• stationery carnations;
• chenille wire;
• hot gun;
• marker,
• a mitt for rubbing the machine (you can use colored paper).

At the time of the lesson, we had prepared cores 80, 90 and 100. The child is offered one core and many petals and leaves. A preschooler is quite capable of finding examples for which the answer is the number written in the center. In this way he collects the flower.

For entertaining problems, you can make petals for addition, subtraction, in the future I plan to do them for multiplication and division. It all depends on the preschooler’s level in mathematics.

I advise you not to make each flower a different color, otherwise the child will simply collect the color scheme without bothering to count.

Here is a finished flower that can be easily disassembled and you can assemble the next one. I complete the numbers as much as possible and keep all paper parts in a zip bag.

Our mathematics for preschoolers in games is described. I highly recommend reading about outdoor and board games.

Supporting material for Zaitsev's table

Many people use Zaitsev’s table and there comes a time when the parent’s imagination refuses to use it in an entertaining way. We now have, albeit briefly, an auxiliary table. It took me 10 minutes to make it.

I needed:

• A sheet of colored paper;
• marker;
• ruler;
• scissors;
• laminator (you can take cardboard, then you won’t need a laminator).

Having measured the size of the compartments on Zaitsev's table, I drew five rectangles. The middle remains open. The numbers on the left, right, top and bottom open in the form of windows. The child is asked to place an open window on any number of his choice, and try to count which numbers are in the other four windows.

I had an idea the next day to make the same entertaining table, only with the numbers -2, +2, -20, +20. I would need to flip a piece of construction paper horizontally to fit the windows. But there was no need to do this, as Alexander said:

- Mom, this is a stupid game!

This is the trend I have been observing over the past months. My son really loves cartoons, which he watched as a child and enjoys watching them. He loves the books that we read a couple of years ago and periodically asks us to re-read them. Even toys for children attract Alexander's attention; he may ask where his pyramid is, because he wants to collect it. But! If in mathematics I give my preschooler tasks that he can easily complete, then they are not interesting to him. So by stupid game he meant “Mom, what’s there to count!”

Nevertheless, I think that some parents will like the idea, and they will be able to diversify the Zaitsev table activities with their children.

Mathematics for preschoolers – download the game

My son brought a board game from the lyceum where he studies. These were tiny cards, drawn by hand, apparently by teachers. But I really liked the idea of ​​the game and decided to make it of good quality for my subscribers.

If you are not one, please subscribe in the right column of the blog or download immediately, then the system will add you to the list automatically. You can download it absolutely free by entering your details below:

Check it out: and on the blog

Game conditions

The cards show figures from 1 to 10. Each player is given 10 cards with different designs, which are mixed in advance. That is, one gets stars, and the other gets hearts. Everyone holds their deck face down. Players lay out 1 card each, turning it over, and the one with the higher number takes both. For example, if the stake is 6 and 10, then the owner of the ten takes both cards and places them on the bottom of his deck. The one who has the entire deck in his hands wins.

If cards with the same number are on the line, then each player places one more picture down on his own, and then another one face up. There are 6 cards at stake at this moment - the one with the larger number takes everything. In such a draw, the winning player puts the taken cards aside. They can only be taken when all the others have been lost to them. If you don't do this, the game will be endless.

Here you practice determining quantities within a dozen by eye. Preschoolers should clearly understand what more and less mean. This game will allow you to determine this automatically.

Mathematics for preschoolers can be in games, as I described above. But sometimes a working mother has no time at all. This is the truth of life and you can’t run away from it. So this summer I alternated between fun activities and notebooks. We all know that children have different attitudes towards ready-made benefits. My son takes the Kumon workbooks very well, he studied well with them then and now, when he counted examples in mathematics.

Kumon will definitely not disappoint you if you choose the right level for your child. There are mathematical aids from this series for ages 3-4-5, with numbers up to 30 and up to 150. Assess your preschooler’s level of knowledge before purchasing aids.

Addition examples – level 1

At the beginning of the workbook, the child is asked to match the number of dots to a number and write the numbers from 0 to 10. Alexander was not interested in these pages, so we moved on.

At the first level, work progresses within two dozen. The child is asked to add 1, 2, and so on. Mathematics examples are given in ascending order and interspersed, which gives a sense of confidence to beginners and an incentive to move forward.

Labyrinth

Subtraction examples – level 1

In the first level subtraction workbooks, fields are also given where you need to fill in the cells with numbers from 0 to 10. Gradually, starting with one, the child enters the world of subtraction.

Alexander was impatient to reach the end of the notebook; he wanted to solve more complex examples. Therefore, on his own initiative, he took two or three lessons a day. Which gave me about 30 minutes of quiet work time.

You can purchase this workbook at Labyrinth

Addition Math Examples – Level 2

Mathematics for preschoolers using the Kumon method, at the second level of addition, is presented in the form of columns. with Alexander six months ago, and although the topic was familiar, the child took it with greater interest due to the increased complexity.

Having flipped through the notebook to the end, Alexander immediately showed me which pages he would like to start with. We agreed that we needed to get to them, deciding everything in order. These are the examples that attract my son; they are on the last pages of the second level.

You can purchase this workbook at Labyrinth

Subtraction Math Examples - Level 2

The grade for the work done was very important to my child. Although he took two or three lessons of his own free will, after finishing each of them he came running to me so that I could check and give him points. He stood and breathed nervously in my ear, watching as I counted. So counting points in the Kumon method turned out to be a kind of incentive for Alexander, where he could be convinced of his capabilities.

The Kumon Level 2 workbook begins with easy examples in the form of repetition.

At the end of the manual, as with addition, examples with large numbers are given. And the entire middle of the notebook, 3/4 of it, is occupied by examples in a column.

You can purchase this workbook at Labyrinth

The third level will be described by me later, after we begin to work on it. I will say right away that it includes multiplication and division. It’s a bit of a risky way to present school material to a preschooler, but two things reassure me:

1. I don’t see the point in keeping a child away from what interests him.
2. My son studies at a lyceum, where he has the opportunity to receive assignments according to his level of knowledge.

So, today we were able to see that mathematics for preschoolers can be interactive in the form of games and ready-made manuals. Regardless of which path you choose, the main thing is that you and your child enjoy the activities.

Teaching mathematics in a playful way develops and shapes the child’s cognitive interest. It is best to develop an interest in this science before teaching it at school.

Interesting and exciting tasks and exercises in mathematics for preschoolers will help with this.

Developmental tasks can instill in a child a number of useful qualities: perseverance, the ability to set goals and plan, follow rules, the ability to analyze, weigh the result, and give reasons.

Finding ways to solve non-standard problems helps stimulate creative and research activity.

Working with developmental math tasks is not at all difficult; parents are quite capable of handling it. But in order for the child to get the maximum benefit from classes, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of their organization:

Challenges help children understand that every potential challenge may contain a trick or a double meaning. To find the correct answer, you need to concentrate and look at the puzzle from different perspectives.

Before you begin the task, you need to give recommendations on how to complete it:

• Take into account the level of development and age characteristics of the child.
• For example, the attention span of preschoolers is lower than that of younger schoolchildren. They can maintain attention while doing an activity of interest for 30-50 minutes. If your baby's attention suddenly wanes, there is no need to force him to continue studying.
• Based on the interests of the child.
• Don't overuse hints.
• If a child cannot find a solution to a problem, there is no need to say the correct answers every time, you need to encourage him to search and be patient. To keep the child’s interest, an adult can offer a partial hint. As a rule, a preschooler does not manage to complete all tasks the first time, but this has positive aspects - if a child is forced to do something several times, the development of the volitional sphere occurs.
• Do not limit yourself to one type of exercise, but use a variety of material.
• This will help in diversified development. When organizing classes, you need to pay attention to training spatial-temporal relationships, counting skills, imagination, logical thinking, etc.
• Use different forms of organizing classes: individual work, games in pairs or team competitions.
• Proceed from the gradual complication of tasks.
• Use visual aids that will attract the child’s attention: bright pictures or photographs, images of favorite fairy-tale characters.
• Do not skimp on praise if the baby deserves it.
• Encourage independence.

Work with your child comprehensively. As you develop your math skills, also develop your reading skills. Find out from our article.

If your child is fidgety, let him run around orthopedic mat. Read about its benefits in ours.

Types of tasks in mathematics

Entertaining mathematical tasks include games, riddles, comic problems, puzzles, and exercises with geometric shapes. All of them are aimed at developing reaction speed, logical and innovative thinking, resourcefulness, and imagination.

Since preschool age is divided into junior and senior, tasks should be selected taking into account the degree of difficulty. The younger preschool age covers the age period of 3-4 years, and the older one - 5-7 years. Of course, the breakdown of tasks by age is conditional, since everything depends on the pace of development of the offspring, which is what we need to focus on.

Math games

Mathematical games include tasks that are based on the analysis of logical relationships and patterns.

To find the answer, you need to analyze the conditions of the problem, familiarize yourself with its content and understand what needs to be done.

The search for a solution involves the use of mental operations: analysis, synthesis, generalization.

A game “Make a sequence of numbers”. The child is given mixed cards with numbers from 1 to 5 or 10, and he must arrange them in the correct sequence.

Exercise . The child receives a form with pictures next to which there are numbers. You need to count the objects in the picture and circle the corresponding number.

Exercise . You need to draw the specified number of dots on the insect’s body.

Games for older preschoolers

A game "Compare the number". The adult asks the child to name the number, taking into account the conditions: it must be more than 5, less than 8. For each correct answer, you can give a sun or a flag.

Exercise . On a special form there are a series of pictures on the left, and examples on the right. It is necessary to choose a suitable example for the picture.

Mathematical problems for ingenuity

Puzzles are recommended for children of older preschool age. The most common are geometric problems with counting sticks. They are called geometric because the task is based on the composition and transformation of various figures. To complete the task, you need to prepare counting sticks and chart tables with images of figures.

You need to try to choose tasks with different conditions and solutions in order to stimulate the baby’s search activity.

Problems for preschoolers

A picture depicting some object is placed in front of the child. It could be a house, a bench,... The child must, focusing on the sample, put together a similar object from sticks. Subsequently, you can complicate the task by asking the child to add up the shown picture without having an example in front of his eyes, that is, from memory.

"Shape Transformation". The task is carried out in 2 stages. First, the adult shows the child a figure and asks him to make the same one out of sticks. Instructions for the second stage: you need to determine which and how many sticks should be removed to create a different figure.

The child needs to analyze the presented geometric shapes, imagine what the final result will look like and choose an answer.

The child is given an image of a complex geometric figure consisting of many details; he must count how many triangles, rectangles, and squares are in the figure.

Games for recreating figurative images from geometric shapes

Games with geometric shapes to compose various objects and animals are very useful for the development of analytical thinking and sensory skills. To conduct classes, you need to stock up on a set of shapes: a circle, a triangle, a rectangle or a square.

Games for younger preschoolers

“Make a picture.” The child is given a standard set of figures and simple pictures depicting various objects. Based on the example, the child must put together the pictures.

Games for older preschoolers:

“Make a silhouette of an animal or insect”. To play the game, take a circle, which is divided by lines into smaller and heterogeneous parts, and cut. Then, from the received parts of the circle, the children try to make a picture, and they are not given specific instructions - they must act according to their own plan.

"Items made from cubes." Looking at the image of the object, the preschooler builds the same one from cubes.

Riddles, comic problems, entertaining questions

Children meet riddles, comic problems and entertaining questions with extraordinary enthusiasm. They are able to activate the child’s mental activity, develop skills to notice the main and essential properties, separating them from the secondary ones.

Tasks belonging to this category are excellent for use at the beginning of a lesson to prepare the child for intellectual work and conduct mental gymnastics.

Comic tasks can create a favorable emotional background and lift your spirits. As a way to relax and switch attention, tasks can be used in the middle of the lesson.

Mathematical riddles are intricate questions or descriptions of some object or phenomenon that a child must guess. Since the riddles are mathematical, numbers will definitely appear in them, and computational actions will need to be performed.

Comic problems are game tasks with a mathematical meaning, to solve which you need to use ingenuity and resourcefulness, and in some cases have a sense of humor. It is recommended to study according to them from the senior preschool age. The content of the tasks is unusual, since along with the main characteristics they include secondary ones. It turns out that the search for an answer is, as it were, disguised by other conditions.

Examples of humorous problems

• 2 cars drove 5 km. How many kilometers did each car travel?
• If a stork stands on one leg, then it weighs 4 kg. How much will a stork weigh when it stands on 2 legs?
• What is heavier: 1 kg of concrete or 1 kg of wool?

Interesting questions

They are short questions asking people to count something.

• How many ears do three mice have?
• You, me, you and me. How many of us are there?

Games, mathematical entertainment

Games and mathematical entertainment are a great way to diversify the forms of work. If you choose a game with two participants, the child’s interest will increase due to the spirit of competition.

Games for younger preschoolers

“Finish the drawing.” The child is given a sheet of paper with geometric shapes depicted on it. The task is to draw a small picture based on the desired geometric figure. For example, from a circle you can draw a snowman or a clock, from a square - a TV, a briefcase.

An example of a game for older preschoolers

"Houses". For this game you will need 20 images of houses with 10 windows. You can judge the apartments by the presence of curtains on the windows. The essence of the game is to compare the houses with each other: how many residents need to be moved in so that all the apartments are fully occupied, how many residents need to be removed from the house so that the same number of apartments are occupied in it as in the fifth house.

Universal games

The older the child, the more numbers there can be.

Books on mathematics for preschoolers

1. A. Boloshistaya “Mathematics around you.” The workbook includes tasks to develop mathematical thinking. Intended for children 4-5 years old.
2. K.V. Shevelev “Mathematics for preschoolers.” The workbook consists of developmental tasks addressed to children aged 6-7 years. The classes are designed to prepare you for school.
3. L.G. Peterson “One is a step, two is a step.” The series of manuals is designed to develop a mathematical way of thinking, imagination, and the ability to analyze.
4. M. Druzhinin “The Big Book of Leisure.” The book includes rebuses, riddles, puzzles. The tasks are designed to develop analytical thinking, broaden your horizons, and activate your imagination.
5. O. Zhukova “Mathematics for preschoolers.” The coloring book contains game exercises that will teach your child to count to 10 and help develop perception and logic.