LeapFrog has a brand new DVD, Scout & Friends Numberland that hits stores today (Jan 31, 2012). The video will show you what the kids say, but give an explanation to you as to what the video can help your child learn.
Math was a fun subject for me growing up, I just enjoyed it. It is not as easy or fun for some children though and I think tools like this DVD in conjunction with other tools can really help kids learn and really capture what they need to. I volunteered in the Title 1 Math classroom of first graders at our local school for some time – these were kids who needed some extra help in math. I know so many of them would have loved this video to watch and home with their family. We encouraged the kids to practice the games and tools we worked with them on in class, but adding something like this really would have been great.
Here are a few other tips and activities to help engage your children with early numeracy concepts from Dr. Jody Sherman Levos – the designer behind this DVD. When my son was learning math we did many of these things at home. Even just setting a timer for 5 minutes and doing a bit of these things a few times a day can really help!
- Practice number recognition and verbal counting with your child by walking through your house or neighborhood, and pointing out the different numbers that you see. Ask your child to say the number names, and then practice counting out loud together. For example, if your child finds the number 5, practice saying “1, 2, 3, 4, 5”.
- If your child can recognize numbers but struggles to put them in the correct order, you can play games that help them create their own number lines. Have your child write the numbers 1 – 10 on large pieces of paper, and then scramble the numbers so they’re out of order. Then ask your child to switch the numbers around so they are in the correct order from smallest to largest.
- Invite young children to arrange objects of different sizes, such as stacking cups, in order from smallest to the largest. The ability to compare things based on a dimension, such as size, and arrange those things in order is a very important aspect of mathematical development.
- Play games together! Several studies have revealed that children can increase their knowledge of several important early math skills by playing board games that contain a number line, like Chutes and Ladders.
- Get active and move around! Try drawing a number line from 1 to 10 on the ground outside using sidewalk chalk, and then invite your child to hop on the numbers and say them aloud. You can even practice skip counting by asking your child to jump on the even numbers — 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 — to drive the concept home.
As I mentioned, the LeapFrog Numberland DVD is now available at http://www.leapfrogdvds.com/ The suggested price is $14.98, although as I am writing this the current online price is just $11.98. The DVD is 35 minutes long and I think the kids will really enjoy it. Think about something like this for the little ones for Valentine’s Day or Easter instead of candy too – as much as I love candy, learning is better!
The Giveaway: Two readers will each receive the LeapFrog Numberland DVD
Required Entry: Ask the young person in your life what their favorite number is and why and then share that with me in the comments!
Winners notified by mail only, so make sure I have a way of accessing your email address when you comment.
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Rules: Only one of each entry method listed per person/family/household. No entering on behalf of others, using extra identities or others identities, no automated program entries, etc. If I catch you cheating you will be banned from this and all of my future giveaways! This giveaway is only open to those in the USA, ages 18+. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm Central Time on Tuesday, February 14, 2012. I will pick a winner and email them and they have 48 hours to claim the prize. If no response, I will pick a new winner. Good luck!
DISCLOSURE: LeapFrog provided the information about this DVD and the prizes. I personally have not seen the entire video, but I am a fan of LeapFrog and have purchased their products for our family for years. Opinions are my own.
© 2012, Robyn Wright. All rights reserved.
