Eating up mathematics

Young children regularly learn important math concepts from examining the world around them. As a matter of fact, for the first five years of life, they construct math through everyday interactions with parents and care givers (Geist 2008). Daily activities, such as snack time and lunch, can serve as mathematical opportunities. When children distribute plates or crackers, they learn oneto- one correspondence. When they have a bowl of raisins, a parent can ask, How many? and count them with the child. And when cooking food, the mathematical opportunities increase exponentially.