Teaching Young Children How to Add and Subtract

Math concepts can be taught to children as young as two, three, and four years old. Basic addition and subtraction are generally taught to children by the end kindergarten. As your child progresses in grade level the addition and subtraction facts become harder. Your child will be expected to know their addition and subtraction facts quickly by the time they reach third grade. In fourth grade this helps as multiplication is learned.

The earlier you start teaching your child the better. A two year old can begin learning simply by you singing a counting song to them. There are also many educational movies that the youngest of toddlers truly both enjoy and benefit from. "One, Two, Three, Count With Me" is a great Sesame Street movie that teaches counting. At two years old a child begins learning math concepts only if exposed to them. A two year old will benefit from getting familiar with the sight of numbers, and also from hearing the number names.

At three years old a toddler can begin counting. Learning to count must be learned before addition or subtraction can be. Start off with the numbers one through ten. Encourage your child to repeat the number names after you as you count to ten. Say the names slowly and clearly. Pause between each number. Once your children can repeat the words after you it's time to try to get them to count on their own. Set out one toy, then add another, and another as your child counts. This creates a visual connection as your child learns to count. It is also the first step in learning to add. Blocks really work the best. Have a container of blocks handy when your ready to practice counting. Working with your child at a table provides you with a surface to lay the blocks on. Ask "How many?" If your child can not tell you then you tell them. Once your child has mastered one through ten move up to eleven through twenty. This likely won't happen until age four though.

At age four a child generally knows how to count to ten. They are still learning the higher numbers and still benefit from the same activities. However, they are now ready to learn more things, such as how to write their numbers. It seems that when a child has an example set before them they will learn more easily. What you can do is write the numbers yourself as your child is watching. As you write them number tell your child what you are doing. "Look, I am making the number one." Then once you've finished add on "See? This is a number one." Children love this! They'll likely want to try too. They'll also likely repeat what you've said. Do this with each number a couple of times a day. Before you know it your child will know the numbers by sight, and will be writing many of them. Don't fret if the writing of your child isn't accurate. Kindergarten perfects they way they shape their letters and numbers. At age four a good imitation is great.

Once your child can count, and can identify the numbers they are ready to begin learning to add and subtract. Addition is best taught by adding one more. Say that you have places three blocks on the table. Ask your child to count them. One, two, three. Tell your child what you're doing as you add one more. "There are three blocks on the table, I am adding one more. How many are there now?" Then ask your child to count them again. One, two, three, four. Finish off by saying something like "There are four blocks now. We counted three and then added one more. Three plus one is four." As your child gets the hang of this activity increase the amount added each time. Little ones have so much fun doing this they don't even realize they're learning to add.

Subtraction is taught after addition. Once your child has a grip on adding then it's time to begin taking away. Say you lay five blocks on the table. Have your child count them, then take one away and have them count again. Verbally explain as you would with the adding. "There were five blocks and we took one away, one, two, three, four, now there are four. Five take away one is four."

Once your child has a grip on both addition and subtraction using the block and counting method it's time to start putting problems on paper. Write the number sentence. 1-1=, or 5+2=. If your child can identify and count they should be able to see the 1 and get one block. Learning the number signs can be tricky. At first it's best to work on either addition, or subtraction. Don't mix them up. Doing several problems of either or will help your child to learn the sign and what it means. Have your child do the work as you encourage and guide them.

Once number sentences have been learned it's time to move on to flashcards. So long as your child can count, and can identify math signs and numbers they will be able to use flash cards. Using flashcards comes after using blocks. There are no blocks to rely on. Children need to use their memories. Counting forward and using fingers, or counting back with fingers is generally the way the newest flashcard users do it. As they get more experienced with both addition and subtraction encourage them to count in their mind, and not to rely on their fingers. Keep practicing and eventually your child will memorize all of their addition and subtraction facts. Thanks for reading and take care!