Learning Age: 3 to 4 Years

Learning Track: Towards Numeracy

Using a Number Poster

M ost parents are aware you should read to your child to help them become good readers

A very useful prop for number recognition, is a simple poster of numbers from 1 to 10. If you cannot get hold of a poster of 1 to 10 then a poster from 1 to 20 will do fine. These posters are often available from libraries.

Place this on a wall near the child's bed or ideally in a poster cover which make it easy to move and use.

At first you go though the poster from 1 to 10. Count out each of the items, "one, two, three", pointing to each item as you go. Then say "We have three frogs. This is the number three.", as you say three, trace over the number three just as you would write it.

This activity is great as a daily bedtime activity (see Our Approach, The Daily Lesson) done as a 'treat' before sleep, this ensures regular learning.

Then after a while let your child say each number with you.

One parent told us about a trick they used many times successfully to keep up her child's interest. She would let her child take the role of being 'teacher' and she would let her child 'teach' her the numbers on the poster ! Doing activities like this also helps your child get ready for school.

Another parent used what he called a 'teaching stick' to point at the numbers on the poster. To keep up his son's interest he would also let him be the 'teacher', and let his son have use of the 'teaching stick' to point.

You can use these tricks too, to maintain your child concentration for longer periods.