Children's maths activities

35 Active Math Games and Activities for Kids Who Love To Move

Tired of hearing groans when you announce it’s time for math? These active math games and activities will spice up your learning game. They get kids up and moving, using their whole bodies to learn facts and skills. Lots of these ideas can be adapted to suit a variety of math concepts, so choose a few to try out with your own math students.

1. Throw snowballs inside or out

Clip flash cards to plastic tubs, then challenge kids to throw the correct number of large white pom-poms (“snowballs”) in from a distance. If there’s snow on the ground, bundle up and take this one outside to use real snowballs!

Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

2. Stack sticks to practice tally marks

Small sticks are perfect for practicing tally marks. Kids will have fun checking the ground under trees for twigs, then breaking them into pieces and creating tally piles.

Learn more: @amysam623

3. Fish for numbers

It’s so easy to make your own magnet fishing pole. Float some numbered foam fish with paper clips attached, then try to catch the numbers in the right order! (Don’t want to get wet? Just lay the fish on the ground instead.)

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Fishing Math

4. Draw and measure shapes on the sidewalk

First, give kids some sidewalk chalk and let them draw a variety of shapes, as big or small as they like. Then, arm them with measuring tapes and have them practice taking measurements.

Learn more: @playexploregrow

5. Stomp and smash on a number line

Grab some paper bags and number them, then shake them out and lay them in a number line. Now, call out an addition or subtraction problem, like 3 + 2. Have a student stomp on the bag labeled three, then on the next two to arrive at an answer of five. (Feeling brave? Try this one with balloons!)

Learn more: Schooltime Snippets

6.

Grow fact-family flowers

Pick up colorful fall leaves and write math facts on them. Gather them around a numbered rock to make pretty flowers.

Learn more: @discoverwildlearning

7. Toss beanbags to learn place value

Label bins with place values like ones, tens, and hundreds. Kids toss beanbags into the bins, then count them and see what number they’ve created.

Learn more: Saddle Up for Second Grade/Place Value Toss

8. Form paper-plate number bonds

Pass out numbered paper plates, then have students mix and mingle to see how many number bonds they can form.

Learn more: The Schroeder Page

9. Create a life-size number line

Number lines are wonderful for all sorts of math games and activities. Make one big enough for kids to stand and jump around on using sidewalk chalk (or painter’s tape indoors). You’ll use it over and over again.

Learn more: Childhood Beckons

10. Hit the target and graph

You can teach graphing in lots of ways, so why not make it active? Students throw balls onto a target, graphing and analyzing their throws as they go.

Learn more: Amy Lemons

11. Head out on a plot graph scavenger hunt

Create a map of your school, playground, or other area using graph paper (or even better, have kids help you do it). Then choose plot points for them to visit to find notes or small prizes. They’ll feel like real treasure hunters!

Learn more: Edventures With Kids

12. Roll the dice to count and move

Get practice with low-number counting and addition using action dice. Write activities like “jump,” “clap,” or “stomp” on a small wooden block, then roll it along with a pair of dice. Kids add them up (or subtract if you prefer) and complete the activity the number of times shown.

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Math Dice

13. Whack a ball to subtract

You know your elementary math students are going to love this! Build your own whack-a-mole 10-frame with a shoebox and Ping-Pong balls. Then, have kids whack the balls to practice their subtraction facts. So fun!

Learn more: Planning Playtime

14. Make a splash with water balloons

You’re going to need to be willing to get a little wet for this one, but kids simply adore math games (or any games!) with water balloons. Fill and label balloons numbered 1 through 20 (or whatever numbers you’re working on). Draw the numbers in a big circle on the playground. Then, have a student choose a balloon, find the matching number, and head off to make a splash!

Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands

15. Tell time on a giant clock

Draw a giant clock face with hours and minutes on the playground with sidewalk chalk. Choose two students to be the hour and minute hands, then call out a time and send them out to become the clock. Add more complicated elements by having them add to or subtract from the initial time too. (“Now it’s 23 minutes later!”)

Learn more: Creative Family Fun/Sidewalk Chalk Clock

16. Measure your frog jumps

Have your students hop like frogs, leap like gazelles, or jump like kangaroos. Then, pull out the ruler or measuring tape so they can measure the distances they’ve covered.

Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons

17. Jump to math facts practice

Lay out a grid like the one shown that has the answers to whatever set of math flash cards you’re currently working with. (This teacher used masking tape; you could also do sidewalk chalk on the playground.) Two players face off, one on each side of the board. Show the flash card, and kids race to be the first to jump to the correct square with both feet inside the lines. Get all the rules at the link below.

Learn more: Teaching and Tapas

18. Run a flash-card race

Tape a series of flash cards to the floor and challenge kids to see who can correctly make their way from start to finish the fastest. They can call out the answers or write them down, but they have to get it right before they move on. Kids can race side by side or work independently to beat their own best time.

Learn more: There’s Just One Mommy

19.

Catch a math beach ball

Beach balls are so much fun in the classroom. Scribble numbers all over one with a Sharpie, then toss it to a student. Wherever their thumbs land, they add (or subtract or multiply) those two numbers together before tossing the ball to the next student.

Learn more: Saddle Up for Second Grade/Beach Ball Math

20. Do a number dance

Kids who love “Dance Dance Revolution” will get into this one. Make a number mat for each student like the ones shown. Flash an equation with an answer between 10 and 99 on the screen. Kids figure out the answer and jump to put their left foot on the correct tens place, right foot on the ones. They’ll be dancing and spinning as they learn!

Learn more: Number Loving

21. Groove with angles

Teach kids about transversals and the angles they create with some fun dance moves! Get the details for “Dance Dance Transversal” at the link below.

Learn more: Communicating Mathematically

22.

Add and subtract by stacking cups

We’re not sure why, but kids simply love stacking cups. Label yours with math problems and answers, then have kids build pyramids and towers galore!

Learn more: The Kindergarten Smorgasboard

23. Measure the height of a tree (no ladder needed)

Kids will be amazed to learn they can measure the tallest tree while keeping their feet on the ground. The link below walks you through the steps with a free printable.

Learn more: From ABCs to ACTs

24. Count and learn on a nature walk

Take an outdoor stroll and practice basic math along the way. This works indoors too—walk the school hallways (quietly) and count doors, windows, posters, and more.

Learn more: Creative Family Fun/Math Walk

25. Hunt for shapes in the world around you

Looking for super-simple and fun active math games? Give students a sheet with shapes to find as you walk around the school or playground. Each time they find the shape, have them trace it on their worksheet and then make a mark to keep track of how many times they’ve seen it.

Learn more: Hands-On Teaching Ideas

26. Steal the balls with addition robbery

Kids compete to see whose basket of balls will add up to the highest amount. The trick? They don’t know at the beginning which balls are worth the most. Learn how to play at the link below.

Learn more: That After School Life

27. Puddle-jump from number to number

Lay out a series of construction paper puddles labeled with numbers. You can call out numbers and have kids jump to the correct one, or have them jump from one to the next in order forward or backward, or even try some skip counting.

Learn more: NurtureStore

28. Paint and hide number rocks

Painted rocks are always a big hit! Have your class help you make these, then hide them around the playground and send kids off to find and answer equations.

Learn more: The OT Toolbox

29. Skip-count along a hopscotch board

A hopscotch board can be used for a lot of fun and active math games. Try it for skip counting: Kids hop along counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, or whatever you’re currently working on. Learn more at the link below.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama/Skip-Counting Hopscotch

30. Aim and throw to practice math skills

Pick up a set of Sticky Darts and draw two dartboards side by side. You can label the rings with any numbers you like. Kids throw the darts and then add, subtract, multiply, or divide the numbers—your choice!

Learn more: Inspiration Labs

31. Design an outdoor board game

Draw a winding path and fill the spaces with math equations. Kids roll the dice and move from space to space (have them jump, skip, or twirl to mix things up). If they get the answer right, they move to the new space. If not, their turn is over. Customizable math games like this can be used at any level.

Learn more: Look! We’re Learning!

32. Turn UNO into an active math game

Grab your UNO deck and get ready to move! Assign each color a movement (hop, touch toes, etc.). As kids draw the cards, everyone completes the movement the correct number of times. Skip and Reverse work as usual, but anyone who gets Draw Two has to draw two more cards and complete the actions on their own while others cheer them on. See more at the link below.

Learn more: Still Playing School

33. Bowl them over while learning math facts

Active math games using recycled materials are economical and good for the environment. Set up empty plastic bottles labeled 1 through 10, then roll the ball to see how many you can knock down. Add up the numbers of the knocked-over bottles to get your score.

Learn more: Learn With Play at Home

34. Compete to win at putt-putt math

Pick up a few dollar-store supplies and make your own putt-putt course. This can be a simple game where kids simply shoot for the highest (or lowest) number. But you can also drive up the complexity by putting equations on the cups that kids have to solve first to determine which is the best cup to aim for.

Learn more: My Catch a Star Classroom!

35. Give a classic game a math twist

Create active math games that give new life to existing resources. For example, add numbers to Twister! For more advanced players, instead of saying “Right hand 5,” try saying “Right hand 14 – 9” to make them think.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama/Twister Math

If you like these active math games and are looking for more ways to move in the classroom, try these 21 Kinesthetic Reading Activities for your most active learners.

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25+ Free Math Games for Kids • Kids Activities Blog

We have a collection of fun activities and interactive math games for children of all ages to give your child practice on important number skills in a playful way. If your kids HATE math, you are not alone. Here are some math games for kids to help them learn to love math one problem at a time.

Let’s play a fun math game!

Fun Kids Math Games

One of the easiest ways to reinforce a new skill is to practice it hands-on in a fun way. No matter the grade level – 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade or beyond…these cool math games are a fun way to practice what you learn.

That is where this fantastic list of fun math games comes in. There is something for everyone!

1. Fun Math Games Using Uno Flip Deck of Cards (Kindergarten & 1st grade)

Why use math worksheets when you can use game cards to review math skills! Check out how this mom plays and learns using the classic game, Uno. This Uno Flip game recommended for ages 5 and up creates simple math problems your child will need to solve! You could easily do this for addiction, subtraction, multiplication, or even division. via Childhood 101

2. Skip Counting Worksheets (1st grade, 2nd grade & 3rd grade)

Skip counting is one of the pre-requisites for a solid foundation in math skills that kids usually start learning around the age of 6 years old. Help your kids understand patterns in numbers with these skip counting worksheets and one of the best math games that you can create on the driveway or front porch with chalk…oh, and getting the correct answer is easy and fun!

3. Fraction Games (Intro: grade 1 & grade 2; 3rd grade and 4th grade)

Do your kids LOVE games, but hate fractions? Ours do! Practice and review fractions with the game Connect 4. This is one of my favorite fraction games because it is simple, but help familiarizes children with fractions, which generally are kind of difficult to learn. Kids are introduced to fractions in grade 1 and 2 and by grade 3 and 4 they are diving deep into learning fractions. via No Time for Flash Cards

4.

Fun And Easy Math Games For Kids (all grades)

Have a Math white board – I love this idea for a class opening activity! Kids race to see how many ways they can combine numbers to make the answer. It is great for multiple levels of learning and is a simple, but fun, math games for kids that don’t require worksheets. This game works really well for older students with more advanced math concepts like grades 3-grade 7, but it could be modified to be used with younger students as young as preschool. via Fun Games 4 Learning

Oh the fun we will have playing puzzle games with math!

5. Video: Math Maze Game (1st grade)

Mazes are a great way to keep your child independently focused on math. Not only does it double as a STEM activity, but this Maze activity can also teach your child about size, geometry and speed.

6. Money Math Worksheets (Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade)

Money math – so easy to create a math money review lesson. All you need is a random handful of coins, a slip of paper with a total your kids need to reach and a jar of change. Then use these money math worksheets to help keep up with all the coins and their worth! Kids learning to count money and add their worth are perfect for this simple worksheet game.

7. Lego Math (Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade)

This Lego math is awesome! You can use Legos and toys to help explain the concepts of place value. Each row on the Lego math mat is a different place value whether it is ones, tens, or more via The Science Kiddo proving math skills is play! In fact, the concepts of place value can be comprehended by even younger kids like preschoolers when introduced through play.

This is so smart!

Online Math For Kids (All Grades)

Screen time isn’t always a bad thing. Your kids can learn while they play, on the iPad or android device with some of these Math Apps for Kids. There are so many different math apps for all ages!

Fun Math Games For Kids With Just A Pencil and Paper

These fun paper and pencil math games go WAY beyond math worksheets. Here are some free printable math games kids will love playing:

8. Expanded Form Dice Game (4th Grade)

You will need some scissors, glue and a pencil to play this expanded form dice game.

9. Math Crossword Puzzles (Kindergarten, 1st Grade)

Download, print & play these math crossword puzzles for addition and subtraction practice fun.

10. Abominable Snowball Math Equation Game (Grades K-3)

Abominable Snowball Math Equation Game uses printable worksheets and sparkly snow playdough to play!

11. Addition Color by Number Pages (Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade)

Let’s play with addition equations with these color by number pages:

Unicorn addition worksheets
Day of the Dead addition worksheets
Shark addition worksheets
Baby Shark easy math worksheets

12.

Subtraction Color by Number Pages (Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade)

Let’s play with subtraction equations with these color by number pages:

Unicorn subtraction math worksheets
Day of the Dead subtraction worksheets
Halloween subtraction color by number worksheets

Fun Math Games For Kids

You should not only know what you are doing. You should also know why and how.
-Harry Wong

13. Multiplication Graph (2nd and 3rd grade)

You can literally see in 3D how multiplication and powers work and grow rapidly with 3D graphing. This is another fun Lego math activity, but this one will require quite a few more small Legos. via Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

14. Marshmallow Shapes (Intro: Pre-K, preschool, Kindergarten; Geometry learning for older students)

Who says you can’t play with your food? These marshmallow shapes are perfect for kiddos who struggle with corners versus verticals. They will understand quickly the importance of corners when they are made of marshmallows! Edible geometry! via Playdough to Plato

15. Fun Math Games For Kids (5th grade)

Play a math game with your whole body – great interaction for antsy kiddos while also learning about place values. There are a couple different fun math games for kids to choose from, but both will have your children entertained. via Two Sisters to Teach

16. Fun Mathematics For Kids (Pre-K, Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st grade)

Is skip counting “just a concept” to your kids? Help them see how multiplication works by skip counting with manipulatives. Don’t worry, these math games aren’t difficult, most of them involve sorting! via One Day at a Time

17. Times Table Tricks (2nd grade, 3rd grade & 4th grade)

Did you know there are times table tricks to improve the swiftness of math skills? Here is a trick to multiply the nines. Find the answer by folding down different fingers. This would have made multiplication so much easier when I was in school! via Come Together Kids

Oh so many fun interactive math games and so little time!

18. Hundreds Chart Puzzle (Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade)

Skip Counting puzzles are a great way to learn about the hundreds chart and number families/patterns. All you need are these free math worksheets, cardstock, and plastic baggies to create this hundreds chart puzzle. via Playdough to Plato

19. Types Of Graphs For Kids (5th grade, 6th grade)

This one will take a little effort to make, but your child can make a math journal more interactive by adding Pop-up bar graphs. Kids remember things they create and this is a great way to teach types of graphs for kids. via Runde’s Room

20. Number Flashcards (5th grade, 6th grade)

These number flashcards are perfect to teach any kid to count! Not only do they have the number written in numeral form, but also word form, and has different geometric shapes depicting the quantity! Perfect for reinforcing each number. via All Kids Network (Pre-K, Preschool, Kindergarten)

21. Math Puzzles For Middle School Kids (Grades 3-7)

This Craft Stick Math Station idea is awesome! It’s math puzzles for middle school kids. Each stick matches another. Make a chain from the problems. You could easily do the same for kids in elementary school or even use it to teach algebra and geometry to high school kids.

22. Paper Fortune Teller Math Game (1st Grade, 2nd Grade & 3rd Grade)

Review math facts with this paper fortune teller math game. Great game for learning multiplication facts or even matching fractions and checking your work.

I love playing with math!

Math Games for Kids Who Get Frustrated with Math

23. Food Fractions (Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade & 3rd grade)

Food fractions is a great way to learn math! I am definitely more motivated when food is involved! Cut up your lunch and learn about fractions and amounts at the same time! Older kids will catch on to this immediately and younger kids will play along while they learn.

24. Tenzi (Grades 2-5)

Tenzi the Math Dice Game is dice game that is addictive! You can adapt it for a wide range of kids learning levels. Best part is, it is simple to play and is great for multiple players 7 years and up! via What Do We Do All Day

25. Math Dice Games (All Grades)

Go big! Create a dice from a large cube box. Dice can be used in so many learning activities like quickly counting sums or subtracting! You could easily use these large dice for bigger kids learning multiplication as well. via Parents

26. Jenga Games For The Classroom (All Grades)

Looking for Jenga games for the classroom? Then this block game is perfect because it is super adaptable. Use it for Speed Math Review. Don’t worry, you don’t have to write on the blocks, instead use stickers so you can swap them out when needed. via The First Grade Parade

27. Math Using Hands (Pre-K, Preschool & Kindergarten)

Make hands for counting! That sounds super odd, but bare with me. You can learn math using hands. If you have a kiddo who needs just a little extra help understanding the concept of twenty or numbers after ten? Try this! It is an extra pair of hands to count on! via J Daniel 4s Mom

28. Fun Math For Kids (Pre-K, Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st grade and adapted for older kids)

Have a number of the day – this is great for homeschooling families with multiple age groups and also for classroom bell openers. via Well Nurtured Plants and Pillars

29. Math Sight Word Play (Kindergarten, 1st grade & 2nd grade)

Did you know there are math sight words? Make word problems easier for your kids to solve with word cards for them to memorize the common words.

30. More Lego Math (Pre-K, Kindergarten)

Pre-math skills – Symmetry. It is a great way to develop spatial awareness. You make one half and your child makes the other half. Plus, it is another fun Lego math project, learning math concepts with toys makes it much more fun I think. via Fun at Home with Kids

31. Coordinate Math (Grades 2-6)

Play the game Gridlock to help your kids learn graphing principles. They will literally be able to see the graphs and the lines. This is one of my favorite math activities for kids. via Mathwire

32. Number Line (Pre-K, Preschool, Kindergarten)

Number lines are a great way for kids to see the order that numbers occur. You can make your own number line. Remove clothespins and ask your kids what the missing number is. via Fantastic Fun and Learning

33. Multiplication Songs (Pre-K through Grade 3)

Skip counting songs! It is our kids favorite way to learn their times tables. Here are the BEST math songs, including fun multiplication songs. These are the cutest! via Imagination Soup

How Can I Learn Kids Math Games?

If you do one of these activities every afternoon with your child, they will not only catch up to their peers and become more confident learners, they just might also discover a love of logic!

Using games to improve basic math skills is a great learning strategy for kids. Many math concepts require memorization, math drills and repeated practice to master. Kids can lose interest in the process and their ability to grasp later math concepts that build on this important foundation can cause serious scholastic issues.

Nearly any math activity can be turned into a game when you look at it and see how you can include a little friendly competition! Whether it is turning a worksheet into something kids can play with hands-on, creating a guessing game instead of a drill, having kids compete against each other or adding a timer so kids can compete against themselves.

Free Math Games for kids

Not everyone learns the same and unfortunately math is one of those things you either really get it or don’t. And if you’re one of the ones who don’t catch on to math skills right away, it can be frustrating.

More Fun Math Games & Printable Worksheets From Kids Activities Blog

Check out these 10 Fun Math Games for Kids! I am your kids will love them.
Looking for some Super Fun Math Games? We got you covered.
Make math delicious with this Fraction Game: Cookie Math! Cookies make everything better.
Need some math worksheets? Then check out these FREE Printable Math Activities.
We have over 100 fun math games and activities to choose from.

math for kids faq

How do 10 year olds make math fun?

Anything that makes math a game can help overcome the monotony of practicing math facts and doing math figures. Math games turn learning and practicing math concepts into great fun! Don’t be stuck thinking that math needs to be just worksheets and textbooks when it comes to kids.

What math should a 5 year old be doing?

5 year olds should be learning to master counting to 100, be able to count a group of objects up to 20, know all the shapes and solve simple addition and subtraction questions up to the number 10.

What are the 4 basic math skills?

The 4 basic math skills (also known as components of math or mathematical operations) are add, subtract, multiply and divide.

more fun!

Science for Kids
Fun Fact of the Day
Learning activities for 3 year olds

Which of the math games and interactive activities was your kids favorite? Did we miss any of your favorite ways to teach math basic skills and mental arithmetic to kids in a playful way?

Development of children's mathematical abilities through play activities

Children's play is the main activity in preschool age. In the preschool period, the child's motivation to acquire new knowledge is still not very active, and this is quite natural. But children take play activities seriously, completely immersing themselves in the process for a long time. They try to follow the established rules and strive to achieve the desired result with all their might. This feature of the psychology of preschoolers can be used for learning by presenting educational tasks as games.

What mathematical knowledge can a preschooler get in a playful way

Playing activities at the age of 3-6 years are varied, so an experienced specialist gives all the mathematical knowledge and skills necessary for a future first grader. In a playful way, the child will master forward and backward counting, learn numbers and learn how to write them, understand the meaning of addition and subtraction and learn how to solve problems using these actions. The curriculum for preschoolers includes an introduction to geometric shapes, the concepts of area and volume. Solving mathematical and logical problems develops the child's mental abilities. He learns to understand the meaning of the task, analyze it, draw up a solution plan and look for non-standard ways of doing it.

The development of children's mathematical abilities through play activities has the following advantages:

kids are willing to work, do tasks;
does not cause fatigue and loss of concentration, which is observed during normal activities;
the learning process causes positive emotions, which awakens the desire for further knowledge acquisition;
the mathematical abilities of children are formed, the general outlook develops, speech, coordination of movements, fine motor skills of the hands are improved.

When learning in a playful way, abilities are developed in other areas: communication skills are developed, since children perform some tasks together, helping each other, exchanging thoughts. Joint tasks give rest and ensure the development of speed of thinking, coordination of movements, the ability to act in a team

The development of mathematical abilities helps to learn about the world and achieve success

The formation of elementary mathematical representations of abilities at preschool age is important for general development. The ability to understand and evaluate the quantitative characteristics of objects and phenomena makes knowledge about the world around us more complete and deep.

Mathematics requires logical thinking, but not template solutions, therefore it allows developing creativity. Well-developed spatial thinking will be useful for future artists and architects, and the ability to think logically and find beautiful solutions will be useful for future managers, advertising and marketing specialists. It does not matter what type of activity the child chooses - the ability to think clearly, see the task and divide it into components will help him succeed, facilitate the study of all school disciplines.

Learning in a playful way

A playing form of learning does not cause difficulties and fatigue for the child, but for the teacher such an activity is more difficult than the traditional presentation of material. It is necessary to organize the educational process in such a way that:

game tasks arouse interest in children;
motor and cognitive games (aimed at developing higher mental functions) were selected in the optimal proportion for a specific age group - only in this case, preschoolers will not feel tired at the end of the lesson;
all types of memory (visual, auditory, associative, mechanical) were involved, which will ensure fast and long-term memorization;
preschoolers learned to solve problems using certain algorithms and developed creative, spatial and mathematical thinking.

Homeschooling or preparatory courses

Many parents prefer to take care of their child on their own, including offering educational games. Today on the Internet you can find a lot of information on the development of children, detailed descriptions of methods and exercises that provide mathematical knowledge and develop thinking. Such training is very useful, but training with a professional is more effective. It is not enough just to read the recommendations - you need a lot of practical experience and knowledge in the field of pedagogy and psychology, which allow you to objectively assess the level of its development. If there are problems in learning, you can not blame the preschooler for laziness and unwillingness to learn. It is useful to undergo neuropsychological diagnostics, which will identify the causes of the difficulties that have arisen, and then sign up for a course of correctional and developmental classes.

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Mathematics and its importance in the development of preschool children

Even in early childhood, babies are faced with objects that differ in shape, color and quantity. At this age, the basic elementary ideas and abilities of the child begin to form. The first toys resemble geometric shapes: cubes, constructors, pyramids. The count begins with mom's questions: "Tell me, how old are you?". Parents of children are taught to name the shapes of toys, their size, quantity.

Through play activities, the ability to distinguish different properties and features of objects is formed. The baby is forming the first concept of mathematics, although he still does not know and is not aware of this. The consciousness of a child in early childhood is chaotic. Parents teach children to compare, group objects, call them by their proper names.

Through visual-objective actions - they help the child to remember what he heard on the basis of objective images. Before the age of three, the child already knows how to group objects according to their external features, color, shape. So, for example, a child can put green toys away from red ones, choose pencils from a pile of other objects and put them together, can add pyramids in size, in order of the pyramid rings.
Being engaged with objects through game activity, the child compares them. This is where the first acquaintance with mathematics begins.

By the age of four, children can easily count up to five, and a little older up to ten, but they can also make mistakes in counting.

By the age of six, children already begin to understand when the numbers increase and when they decrease. That is why it is important to start systematic classes from kindergarten in order to increase the mental perception of the child.

In today's modern society, one of the requirements for preschool education is that children receive mathematical knowledge and elementary ideas in kindergarten.
Preschoolers in the course of their development receive the first elementary ideas about mathematics. The available methods and means of forming elementary mathematical representations are developed specifically for age categories, taking into account the gradual development of skills and abilities in preschoolers in this direction.

Mathematics is an independent educational subject and is designed to develop intellectual abilities depending on the natural potential of preschoolers. Its role in the development of elementary ideas in preschoolers is very great. In the course of such activities, the child develops and develops cognitive and personal abilities.
In the process of learning, through the means of mathematical classes, the child receives the first ideas about mathematical concepts.

Mathematics is one of the few disciplines that covers different aspects of the personality of children. In the process of forming elementary mathematical concepts and learning, preschoolers actively develop all cognitive processes: speech, thinking, memory, perception, and representation. This becomes effective if, when setting up classes, the frequency and sequence of the development of cognitive processes in a child are taken into account, depending on the psychophysical development of each child.

If a child has not reached the age at which he is able to understand mathematical processes, then classes will not play any role for his consciousness. The possibilities of the child are determined by his psychology. In the modern world, innovative methods and means are increasingly included in the educational programs for preschoolers.

The abilities of each child depend on his individual psychological characteristics. Mathematical abilities cannot be innate, since only anatomical and physiological features of a person are innate. Mathematical is a special kind of abilities, they depend on the integral quality of the mind and develop in the process of mathematical activity.

A person's abilities can manifest themselves in various areas, and here, like everything else, mathematical abilities are revealed in the course of a preschooler's activities. The preschool age is considered the most favorable period for the development of abilities.
An analysis of scientific research (A.M. Leushina, N.I. Nepomnyashchaya, A.A. Stolyar, etc.), pedagogical experience convinces us that rationally organized teaching of mathematics to preschool children ensures the overall mental development of children. (Rationally organized education is timely, appropriate for the age and interests of children.) At the same time, pedagogical guidance from an adult is important. Children acquire elementary knowledge about the multitude, number, size and shape of objects, learn to navigate in time and space. They master the account and measurements of linear and volumetric objects with the help of conditional and generally accepted measures, establish quantitative relationships between quantities, the whole and parts.

In recent years, such a concept as pre-mathematical preparation has been introduced into practice. Preparing the child and his cognitive world for the mathematical way of thinking. A variety of ways of forming the cognitive sphere allow you to prepare the child for the study of the subject - mathematics. When organizing classes, there is an impact on visual and logical thinking, memory, creative imagination, perception, voluntary attention of a preschooler.

Children at preschool age observe and imitate adults, they observe every action and listen carefully to what the teacher says and this is an important property. Children should be taught to act independently, show and tell about their actions. Preschoolers should be encouraged to repeat after the teacher about the properties and qualities of objects. Games with children should contain mathematical actions.

Mathematics classes in kindergarten form the simplest types of practical and mental activities of children. Under the types of activity - in this case, methods of examination, counting, measurement - they understand the objective sequential actions that the child must perform in order to assimilate knowledge: element-by-element comparison of two sets, imposing measures, etc. Mastering these actions, the child learns the purpose and methods of activity, as well as rules that ensure the formation of knowledge.

As a rule, educational tasks in the classroom are solved in combination with educational ones. So, the educator teaches children to be organized, independent, listen carefully, do the work efficiently and on time. This disciplines children, contributes to the formation of their focus, organization, responsibility. Thus, teaching children mathematics from an early age ensures their comprehensive development.

Naturally, the basis of knowledge is sensory development, acquired through experience and observation. In the process of sensory cognition, representations are formed - images of objects, their properties, relations. So, operating with a variety of sets (objects, toys, pictures, geometric shapes), children learn to establish equality and inequality of sets, to call the number of words: “more”, “less”, “equally”.

Comparison of specific sets prepares children for the subsequent assimilation of the concept of number. It is operations with sets that are the basis that children turn to not only in kindergarten, but also throughout the subsequent years of schooling. The idea of a set forms in children the basis for understanding an abstract number, the laws of a natural series of numbers. Although the concepts of a natural number, as well as a geometric figure, magnitude, part and whole are abstract, nevertheless they reflect the connections and relationships of objects in the surrounding reality.

At the same time, preschoolers are taught to compare objects by size (size) and designate the results of the comparison with the corresponding words-concepts (“more - less”, “narrow - wide”, etc.), build rows of objects according to their size in ascending or decreasing order (large , small, even smaller, smallest). However, in order for the child to learn these concepts, it is necessary to form specific ideas in him, teach him to compare objects with each other, first directly - by superimposing, and then indirectly - with the help of measurement.

The central task of the mathematical development of children in kindergarten is learning to count. The main methods in this case are imposition and application, the mastery of which anticipates learning to count with the help of numeral words.

Preschool children are able to divide objects and name their parts, such as dividing an apple into slices or a pie. Preschoolers need to understand that a whole apple is bigger than a slice or half of an apple. Senior students must learn and understand that the number 7 is greater than six, but less than eight. By the end of the training period, preschoolers should be able to perform simple mathematical operations.

In the mathematical training of children, the development of elementary mathematical concepts, an important role is played by the teaching of measurement, as the initial way of knowing the quantitative characteristics of the environment. This makes it possible for preschoolers, first of all, to use not generally accepted, but conditional measures when measuring bulk, liquid substances and lengths. At the same time, children develop an eye, which is very important for their sensory development.

The kindergarten math program provides for the development of children's eye in determining the size of objects. To do this, they are trained to evaluate the size (size of objects) as a whole or by individual parameters, comparing with the size of known objects. Attention is drawn to the formation of the ability to check the correctness of the assessment in their practical activities, using additions, reductions, etc. Each practical action replenishes the knowledge of children with new content. It is proved that the formation of elementary mathematical knowledge occurs simultaneously with the development of their practical skills and abilities

Practical actions, while playing a certain role in the mathematical development of children, do not themselves remain unchanged. Thus, the activity associated with the account is changed. At first, it relies on a practical element-by-element comparison of two concrete sets, and later, a number as an indicator of the power of a set and a natural series of numbers acquires special significance, which subsequently replaces one of the concrete sets.
First, children take objects with their hands, shift them, and then count the objects without touching them, or perceive them only by touch.

On the basis of practical actions, children develop such mental operations as analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization. The teacher should be guided in evaluating the results of his work, first of all, on these indicators, on how children are able to compare, analyze, generalize, and draw conclusions.

In the process of systematic teaching of mathematics, children master special terminology - the names of numbers, geometric shapes (circle, square, triangle, rhombus, etc.), elements of figures (side, top, base), etc. However, it is not recommended when working with children to use such words-terms as “natural rad”, “set”, “structure”, “elements of the set”, etc. Children should also master measured values: meter, centimeter, kilogram, gram, etc. At the same time, work is not limited to classes. They learn to find and compare objects in everyday life, on the street and in nature. For example: three birch trees under the window.

Shcherbakova E.I. among the tasks for the formation of elementary mathematical knowledge and the subsequent mathematical development of children, he singles out the main ones:

- the acquisition of knowledge about the set, number, size, shape, space and time as the foundations of mathematical development;

– formation of a broad initial orientation in the quantitative, spatial and temporal relations of the surrounding reality;

- formation of skills and abilities in counting, calculations, measurement, modeling, general educational skills;

- mastery of mathematical terminology;

- development of cognitive interests and abilities, logical thinking, general intellectual development of the child.

These tasks are most often solved by the teacher at the same time in each lesson in mathematics, as well as in the process of organizing various types of independent children's activities. Numerous psychological and pedagogical studies and advanced pedagogical experience in preschool institutions show that only properly organized children's activities and systematic training ensure the timely mathematical development of a preschooler.