Numbers Count, Too
Last week we talked about calling things by their names instead of their categories, like calling it a seagull or a bluejay or a robin instead of a “bird.” Today we’re going to talk about something that’s just as important, but for different reasons. We know that language – words – are important because they allow us to communicate easily with people who share the same language. We don’t have to draw pictures to let someone know what we’re talking about. But the key piece is that we have to each know the language we’re using or it doesn’t work.
Numbers also let us communicate, and, in a sense, they’re better than words because they cross all languages. 4 is 4 is 4 no matter where you live. Addition and subtraction are addition and subtraction no matter where you go to school or what language you speak. The same is true for fractions, algebra, and calculus. Cool, isn’t it?
So what does that mean for our kids? It means that at a very young age, and all through our lives, we have the capability of learning a universal language. And we know the best way to learn any language is to use it. So, how about this? The next time your 3-year-old wants to help you and you’re trying to fold laundry, try counting the socks. Count Cheerios. Count cars in the parking lot. Count flowers in your yard. Count ceiling tiles. Count everything. And do it together.
Once we’re pretty good at the counting thing, move up to patterns. Help your kids see that the parking lot has rows and columns. Then show them that each row and column has the same number of spaces in it. Help them see that if they know how many are in one row, they know how many are in the next. (This is called arrays and forms the basis for multiplication.)Help them see the patterns in nature, too. Count the petals on a flower. Then look at a different kind of flower (don’t forget to name both of them) and notice the differences. Discover the patterns in tree bark. Look for patterns in vegetables. Pretty soon, your child will be showing you patterns everywhere. At the same time, you’ll be sharing an incredible experience with them, together discovering some of the most fascinating beauty in our world. And just think – it can all start with numbers.
