MATH IN THE AISLES | The grocery store is one of those places you don’t think about, but it’s actually a great learning spot. It’s basically a real life math lab, just with snacks as motivation.

Most days, I’m in get in, get out mode, trying not to forget the one thing I always forget. But lately, I’ve been slowing it down and bringing Titus into the process so it becomes more of a learning moment. Using the Basic, Count, Group and Compare, the store is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. There are real items, real choices, and plenty of chances to build early math skills without making it feel like “learning.”

As we shop, we name and count items going into the cart. At checkout, we count how many items go into each bag and compare which has more. At home, we keep it going by grouping and sorting. What stays cold, what goes in the freezer, and what belongs in the pantry.

Counting clicks more when he’s actually holding and choosing the items. Comparing makes him stop and think instead of just repeating what he hears. And grouping is helping him make sense of how things fit together in the world around him.

It’s simple, it’s practical, and it’s already built into something we’re doing anyway.

By: Candace Martin

LEARNING PATTERNS — ONE SHAPE AT A TIME | To practice The Basics principle—Count, Group and Compare—we did a simple but fun shape-matching activity using Titus’s play mat. One thing I love about The Basics is how easy it is to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities!

We started by gathering a mix of colorful shapes—circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. Then, we picked one shape and said its name out loud. Titus’s job was to find the matching shape on the mat. He proudly announced, “This is a triangle!” every time he made a match.

After matching, we sorted the shapes into piles by type—grouping all the circles in one spot, all the squares in another.

Grouping boosts pattern recognition, grows vocabulary, and helps Titus organize his thinking. With just a few shapes and a little curiosity, we practiced math, language, and problem-solving—all while having fun.

By Candace Martin

Making a Game of Comparisons

By Jennifer Scotton

With a three-year-old and an infant in our house, dinner time can get a bit hectic. As we wait for everyone to get seated, my son and I have been playing a new game to keep him occupied until food is in front of him at the table. I’ll point to his dad and say: “Who is taller, Daddy or Mommy?” He gives us both a once-over and gleefully replies, “Daddy!” We continue this game by comparing the height of everyone in our house, sometimes even adding in the dog and the cat! If we run out of heights to compare, we move on to ages and hair length.

This is an easy game that works well any time, including car rides and neighborhood walks. Using this tool to keep my son engaged has also helped to foster his math and critical thinking skills.