STOP AND COUNT THE ROSES | We are so excited that the weather is warming up, and spring is finally here! Lately,
we’ve been spending as much time outside as possible. Claire (2) loves to take her time
on walks, stopping to check out every little thing. She literally stops to smell the roses.
Since we’re already pausing, we use the moment as a learning opportunity. We count
how many flowers we see, talk about their colors, and notice how they are alike and
different. Some are yellow, some are pink, some have round petals, and others have
big, fluffy centers.
It’s not just flowers that get us counting. Claire loves spotting dogs on our walks too.
She’ll point out when there are two dogs, or notice that one is big and the other is small.
She’s starting to make sense of numbers, patterns, and comparisons in everyday life.
We also find fun ways to group things as we go. She’ll notice when we pass several
blue cars in a row or when there is a pile of leaves by the curb. When we see birds,
she’ll point out which ones are flying, and which ones are hopping on the ground. All of
these little observations add up to something bigger. Without even realizing it, Claire is
practicing an important early math skill: Count, Group, and Compare!
By Lizzy Tahsuda
