extend the learning: dinner time

Want to help boost your child's mighty math powers? Team Umizoomi's Educational Consultant, Christine Ricci, Ph.D., has ideas for simple math games you and your child can play every day that will strengthen skills with numbers, shapes, counting, comparing, and more, while also building math confidence.

Set the table in a pattern, putting the silverware in a particular order. For example, the fork is next to the spoon which is next to the knife. See if your child can do the same order for everyone else's plates. Now change the order and see if she can fix the other place settings.

Have your child count out ten blueberries for everyone's plate. Now give everyone two strawberries. Add some geometric cheese shapes. Cut slices of cheese into various shapes (square, rectangle, circle, even star shapes). Count them out together.