How to help your toddler with math

It wasn’t until we were at a play date with a few of Ayla’s friends who were a bit younger than she is that I realized she was not grasping math very well. I watched as a few of her friends who were 6 months younger than her were counting their toys and grouping them together. Ayla was trying to do the same but I noticed she was making up the numbers because she didn’t know how to count her toys correctly. I realize she is only 4 ½ and kids learn at different paces but having the training I do in early childhood development I know the importance early math skills play in future learning. 

Math skills are paramount in a child’s cognitive development and kids who do more math are better readers, writers, speakers and problem solvers. I recently read that preschool math scores actually predict overall subject scores into elementary school in ALL subjects (not just math). We had chosen a more play-based preschool program for Ayla that really didn’t focus as much on math readiness. In a lot of ways it’s been a great fit for her but I also wanted to find a way for her to be more prepared for kindergarten. I am the kind of mom that can sit on the floor and play make believe for hours but I know it’s not my strong suit to sit and teach Ayla things like letters or counting. I wanted to find a way to help her have fun, feel like she’s playing and get ahead a bit on her math skills. 

When I first heard about Elephant Learning it seemed a bit too good to be true. They boast that kids will learn 1 year of math in only 3 months by using the math academy for 30 min a week guaranteed. I couldn’t believe that in 30 minutes a week Elephant Learning could guarantee results like that. I started to research it and found that the Elephant Learning math academy teaches math conceptually, meaning they teach the language behind the math and not just memorization. I realized that is exactly why I struggled with math my whole life. I could memorize something for a test but always quickly forgot it. I wanted Ayla to have the chance to actually learning the language of math so she would retain it. 

I also looked at a few other options like Sylvan, Kumon an Mathnasium but the programs were all over $100 a month and none of them guaranteed results. Elephant learning is a small time commitment with results that are guaranteed. Not only that but children can do the program from home and with the price point being $35 a month (as opposed to $35 an hour for a private tutor!) it just seemed like a no-brainer.  I found out that they also have scholarships available for families that may need it. The Elephant learning math academy has programs available for kids 2-12 so we plan on using this program for years to come. It teaches everything from advanced counting to fractions, percentages and even algebra. 

I am really thankful to have found a program that will give my kids the language they need to succeed at math. Elephant learning is not an app but an actual online academy and I know Ayla will be equipped to keep up and even excel at math in school thanks to this program. She really enjoys the math games and I love that she can feel like she’s playing while she learns. It’s never a battle to have her sit and we usually do 10 minute sessions 3 times a week. If you have a child 2-12 that could benefit from the Elephant Learning Math Academy you can sign up HERE. 

I know you and your family will love and benefit from this program as much as we have. Thanks for reading! 

 Xo, 

Kelly