Addition is a fundamental concept in mathematics that children need to learn in their early years. Children who have a strong understanding of addition are better equipped to handle more complex mathematical concepts in the future. In this article, we will discuss how to introduce and instruct a child in the concept of addition.
Start With Visual Aids
Visual aids such as manipulatives, counting blocks, and number lines can help children understand the concept of addition. You can use these aids to show how adding two numbers together results in a larger number. For example, if you have two blocks and add two more blocks, you will have a total of four blocks.
Make it fun and engaging. Use their favorite toys or create your own props using items around the house. Check out this activity I made in our firefighter unit study. I made it from construction paper and cardboard. I didn’t have to buy a thing, and it kept his attention really well! I think this was an activity that really set a solid foundation for the concept at only four years old.
Firefighter Addition Activity:
When you’re first introducing addition or subtraction, it is important that you don’t discourage counting on the fingers. These are very useful visual aids your student will always have “on hand”.
Use Real-Life Examples
Children learn best when they can relate new information to real-life situations. You can use everyday experiences to teach addition. For example, if you have two apple slices and add three more apple slices, you will have a total of five apples.
“If there are five people in our family, and we have two people over for dinner, how many plates do we need total?”
Teach the Concepts of “Plus” and “Equal”
Teach your child that the word “plus” means to add. When reading math problems, point out the word “plus” and explain what it means.
We always put the “+“, “- “, and “=“ cards in the flash card rotation about mid-way through the kindergarten curriculum. We use Abeka for kindergarten, but these cards would be simple enough to make with a pen and notecards.
Start With Simple Addition Problems
Start with simple addition problems that involve adding two numbers together. For example, 2+2=4, 3+1=4, and 1+4=5. Keep those visual aids and real-life examples mentioned above handy to help your child understand how to solve these problems.
Pretty soon, you’ll begin to notice he no longer needs the visual aids, and you can slowly transition to counting, then to memorization. Notice your student’s own rhythm on this. It will do him no good to memorize if he doesn’t understand what he’s doing with addition.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Practice is key when it comes to learning addition. Make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to practice what they have learned. You can use the obvious worksheets, flashcards, or online games to help your child practice addition, or you can do any number of games involving counters.
Check out the post below for a free printable resource I made for our kindergarten classroom. The worksheet encompasses visual counters and it helped my oldest son recognize the left to right orientation.
The “red light green light” method allows student to know just where to start and stop.
https://homeschoolonadime.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/sight-word-connect-four-and-even-more/
There is also a link to a number line activity, as well as an idea for math magnet fun!
This one is blank (and also free) so your student can make his own. Use cards or dice to randomize the numbers:
https://homeschoolonadime.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/red-light-green-light-addition-blank-template/
Introducing and instructing a child in the concept of addition can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your child. By using visual aids, real-life examples, and plenty of practice, you can help your child develop a strong understanding of addition. Remember to start with simple problems and gradually move on to more complex ones. With patience and persistence, your child will soon be a confident and capable math student.
Home School On A Dime 