Fostering a home environment where early math learning can thrive is about more than just having the “right” materials on hand—your attitude and feelings about math and how you weave math into your daily routine is just as important! The way you talk about math as a family, the materials you use, and even your own personal relationship with math all play a crucial role in shaping your child’s early experiences with math learning, which has a lasting impact on their academic success and other long-term outcomes.

What matters most in home learning environments?

Researchers have found that what matters most in home learning environments is a combination of formal and informal learning opportunities, as well as positive support from caregivers. These factors matter more than other features of the household, like income, caregiver education, and other physical resources.

The beauty of a strong home numeracy environment  is that it’s all about weaving math into the flow of everyday life. Research on early math learning environments have found that a combination of formal and informal learning opportunities can help support kids learning as well as help them build a positive relationship with math. 

Formal learning opportunities are more structured math-specific activities like counting and sorting sets, practicing writing numerals, or focusing on a specific math skill, like adding or subtracting small numbers.

Informal learning happens during your normal routines and play, like measuring ingredients while cooking, working on a puzzle together, or spotting shapes on a walk. These moments are rich with opportunities for your child to explore and understand mathematical concepts without it being a designated “math time.”

The impact of math anxiety

A positive home numeracy environment can significantly boost your child’s early math skills, but it’s important to recognize the role your own attitude about math can play, especially if you experience math anxiety. If you feel anxious or uncomfortable with math, those feelings can unintentionally influence how your child feels about their own math abilities.

Even in a home filled with great formal and informal learning opportunities, math anxiety can create a barrier to learning. For example, if you avoid math-related conversations or speak negatively about your own math abilities, your child might pick up on these cues and start to feel anxious about math themselves.

The good news is that by being aware of these dynamics, you can take steps to reduce the impact of math anxiety. Try to frame challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, and show curiosity and a positive attitude towards math learning. As you learn and play alongside your child, you might learn to see math in a new light!

Bringing it all together

Creating a positive preschool home numeracy environment is about fostering a supportive, math-positive atmosphere that encourages your child to explore and enjoy math in all its forms. By combining formal and informal learning experiences and being mindful of your own attitudes toward math, you can help your child build a strong foundation for future math success.

Remember, math is everywhere, and every moment is an opportunity to make it fun and engaging! For more ideas on how to incorporate joyful math into your daily routines, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us @growintomath

References: Melhuish et al. (2008), Pungello et al. (2010), Kluczniok et al. (2013), Napoli & Purpura (2018), Susperreguy et al. (2020), Cosso et al. (2023)