Preparing for Kindergarten Admissions: Pre-Numeracy Skills

Preparing for Kindergarten Admissions: Pre-Numeracy Skills

In this blog series, we will be doing a deep dive into the academic skills that are evaluated during the process. Last month we discussed pre-literacy, this month we will be discussing pre-numeracy skills.

Pre-numeracy Skills

Pre-numeracy skills are essential for a child's mathematical development and readiness for formal math education in kindergarten. 

1. Patterning: Patterning involves recognizing and creating sequences or patterns using various elements such as colors, shapes, or objects. This skill is important because it lays the foundation for understanding mathematical concepts like algebra and number operations. Recognizing patterns helps children make predictions, understand relationships between numbers, and develop problem-solving skills. 

2. Counting: Counting is one of the fundamental pre-numeracy skills. It involves 1:1 correspondence and the ability to understand the concept of quantity. Counting helps children develop a sense of number magnitude and order. 

3.  Block Formation: Building with blocks is an important pre-numeracy skill because it helps children develop spatial awareness, geometry concepts, and basic problem-solving abilities. When children manipulate blocks to create structures, they learn about concepts like shape, size, symmetry, and balance. 

4. Identifying Shapes and Colors: Identifying shapes and colors is a foundational pre-numeracy skill that helps children understand basic geometric properties and visual distinctions. Recognizing shapes is a precursor to understanding concepts like symmetry, congruence, and area, which are essential in later math education. Similarly, identifying colors can be used to group and classify objects, laying the groundwork for organizing and sorting data in mathematics.

These skills help children develop the cognitive and spatial abilities required for more advanced math concepts. Additionally, pre-numeracy skills like counting and patterning are important for problem-solving and critical thinking, which are skills that extend beyond mathematics and are valuable in various aspects of a child's academic and everyday life. 

How Can a Specialist Help with Pre-Numeracy  Skills

At Grow With Beck we offer 1:1 sessions to help your child achieve the pre-numeracy milestones required for the Kindergarten admissions process. Our job during sessions is to:

1. Close skill gaps

2. Ensure your child can consistently demonstrate the required skills

3.  Practice empowering academic language that will service them for a lifetime

What You Can Do Today

How can you start preparing your child today? Here’s what you can do:

1. Email us to set up a consultation call

2. Schedule an initial assessment to learn where your child’s skills are today

3. Sign up for a practice playgroup because practice makes perfect!