Kidaptive Blog

Ordinality refers to the principle that written and spoken numbers are part of a sequence that goes from smallest to largest. Although it can be learned fairly young, it takes time to integrate with other conceptual math concepts, like cardinality and numeral recognition. For example, children can learn the order of numbers before they know what […]

Want a quick and easy way to determine how well your child understands cardinality? (Cardinality refers to the number of items in a set and is fundamental to basic math operations like addition and subtraction!) All you need is a table, a small towel or napkin, and at least ten small items, such as buttons. […]

Like a puzzle, part-whole thinking requires the ability to process a whole object, the discrete parts within it, and the relations among the parts and the whole. Research has shown that part-whole thinking relates to many areas of mathematical reasoning, including counting, early arithmetic, and geometry. Research also suggests that one simple tweak of language […]

Did you know that children can understand many basic number concepts even in infancy? Number symbols, however, are a cultural invention (similar to written letters) whose meaning must be learned. You can help your child draw on their existing math skills and develop the ability to identify and write numbers with the following activity. Not […]

Want to improve your child’s understanding of math?  Start by verbalizing the math that is all around them!  Research has shown that engaging in “math talk” greatly improves their skills and deepens their comprehension.  Many everyday activities involve basic math concepts like measurement and counting principles, including one-to-one correspondence (that each item must be counted exactly one […]

A number can be more complex than you might think. For example, while most two-year-olds can recite the numbers one through five, few understand that the name of a number, such as “four,” can also refer to the number of items in a set: four toys, four fish, four grapes, etc. This concept is called […]

Last week I wrote that for kids, thinking of the brain as a muscle empowers them to strengthen their brains through effort. This week, for parents I introduce the idea of the brain as an orchestra, and I give some tips on how parents can help kids develop an understanding of numbers supported by an […]