Addition, subtraction and counting are the primitive operations kids learn from a very young age. But for kindergarten kids, it might be difficult to grasp these concepts readily. They do not have any idea what the numbers are and how they are calculated and related to each other.
That’s why they start thinking of it as a difficult subject and try ways to not do it. This article will help parents and guide them on how to teach addition and subtraction with the help of fun and easy activities. Continue reading to know more.
Activities for Kindergarten
Kids see mathematical examples in their day to day life, when they randomly pick a piece of pizza or drink half a glass of Pepsi. They’ll pick more proportions of the thing they like and less of the one they don’t.
That means they know how to differentiate between less and more according to their choices, from a very early age. These small and basic things build their mathematical understanding bit by bit.
When they want one more ice cream they draw a conclusion of addition and when we take away their favourite chocolates from them, they draw a conclusion of subtraction.
With the help of such concepts, we can help them to understand numbers and mathematics easily. We have to come with activities and ideas that improve their understanding of numbers and the association of linking them to real life.
This is the only way they’ll feel more connected to mathematics and can acquire good knowledge in the subject.
There’s nothing like a different mind or a secret approach of great mathematicians or kids with good mathematics. They certainly find this subject more easy and more fun because they have good knowledge of basics and their concepts regarding different operations are clear.
Thus, we have compiled some wonderful Subtraction and Addition activities to make your kids familiar with the most basic mathematics operation. With the help of these activities, they’ll find challenging mathematics more as an uncomplicated subject and could ace it in a short period. Read the article and get to know more about these activities.
Also Read: Fraction Definition: What is a Fraction For Kids?
How to Teach Addition and Subtraction to Kindergarten?
You can follow three basic approaches to make your kids acquaint with Addition and Subtraction:-
Numbers as Tool
Math is a wonderful subject. You can relate it with almost everything. This is one of the perks, which would help you to teach your kids about mathematics. You can use its examples while comparing heights, weights, distance, amounts, differences and many more.
On the breakfast table ask them, how many breads do you want? Relating to day to day examples will make your kids more confident about their knowledge of mathematics and they’ll think of them as mathematicians and come with their own examples. This is the basic step you need to follow to make them think, Maths as Fun.
Emphasizing the Process
Be patient with your kids. They’ll make mistakes since everything needs time. But you need to help them constantly and encourage them to try again and again.
You can give them objects, matching boards to figure out the numbers. There are chances they could be wrong at first, but give them a chance to think and try the activity 3-4 times. If still they can’t figure out the answer, help them answer the question and then again ask it.
Ask them to discuss how they come up with this answer and understand how they are approaching to solve a problem. It will help them to think and draw a better understanding of mathematics operations and familiarity with numbers.
Practicing Maths Questions
There’s no benefit to learning something if you don’t revise and practice it. To remember a thing or a mathematical concept you need to solve questions again and again.
Trying out a variety of questions of the same problem, helps kids understand the range of ways certain things can be applied. Mathematics is a subject where one question has several different approaches to solve.
If your kids start practising questions from an early age, they’ll try to reason out why this specific step happened and what are the other ways to solve this question. This will develop their reasoning and analytical skills.
You can follow up on the strategies given above to help your kids assemble about numbers and their ability to view numbers with relaxation.
Also Read: How to Teach Mental Math for Kindergarten? Math Concepts for Kindergarten.
Simple Addition and Subtraction Activities For Kindergarten
Addition
Buttons and Dice Adding Activity
It’s a fun activity to learn about addition. You need to throw two dice separately and according to the number you need to put buttons on each side. Then at last you have to add total buttons on each side and answer the calculated combination.
Ball Addition Catch Game
You can play this game with your friends. You just need to mark certain numbers combinations on the light ball and whoever catches the ball needs to answer the calculated answer.
Also Read:- Vedic Maths Tricks for Kids: An Innovative Way of Learning Mathematics
Subtraction
Tubes Game
With the help of leftover cardboard tubes, you can also learn subtraction. Put the tube on the walls or floor with the help of tapes, write down two numbers and calculate it. It’s an amazing activity to start learning about subtraction and addition.
Subtraction Flashcard Game
Flashcard is an easy and colourful way to teach about Subtraction to kids. You can either purchase a subtraction flashcard from an online site or print out a pdf.
Use the flashcards to subtract. Once your kid gets familiar with fundamental operations, you can do the activity same for multiplication or division activities also.
Sunken Treasure Subtraction Game
This game is more kind of voyage, which is played by three players. Two players with the help of addition and subtraction skills find the treasure chest buried, while the third player guides them.
It’s a fun activity which would make kids so amazing that they’ll play it again and again. For this, you’ll only need a game board, card answer key and guides.
Also Read: How to Make a Math Game for Kids? A Complete Guide to Make Your Kid Shine in Maths
Conclusion
In conclusion, the two fundamental operations of mathematics, Addition and Subtraction are the foremost important things to learn for kids.
Even if our kids struggle during the initial years to do calculations, we can follow the activities mentioned in the article, to make them familiarise themselves with the concepts of Addition and Subtraction. It will take time but we need to be patient and try to repeat it till they understand the concept.
Your kids will be astonished by the number of things they can relate to mathematics concepts. Thus you need to help your kids by grooving on the numbers, with daily life examples. In such a way, you’ll build their interest in mathematics and their love for learning will last for a lifetime.
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