Putting Together, Taking Apart
Explore Adding and Subtracting
Adding and subtracting happens every day! It’s not just about equations like “1 + 1 = 2.” Young children learn about math by exploring how amounts change—like putting more colors onto their painting (addition) and giving a block from their pile to a friend (subtracting). As children explore putting together and taking apart groups of objects, they practice basic skills that help them get ready for the math they will learn in school.
- Audience
- Caregiver
- Subject
- Math
- Age
- KindergartenPre-KPreschoolToddler
- Languages
- Brazilian PortugueseEnglishHaitian CreoleSimplified ChineseSpanish
- Materials
- Coins, paper cups, beach ball, die, painter's tape, bowls, small or big container, animal figurines
Many adults feel anxious about math, often because of past experiences. But here is the good news: you don’t need to be a math expert to help your child! Just be curious together. Notice the shapes and numbers around you, and talk about them while you play. When math is part of everyday life, it feels less scary for both of you. Laugh, explore, and don’t worry about mistakes.
Try these activities!
Mystery shaker
- Get ready with a die, two paper cups, painter’s tape, and coins from pretend money or other small objects around the house.
- Roll the die—but don’t tell your child the number! Put the same number of coins into a cup. Place the second cup on top and tape them together to make a shaker.
- Give the shaker to your child. Invite them to shake it and guess how many objects are inside. When your child is ready, open the shaker and count together.
- Try it again, or take turns guessing. What does the shaker sound like when there are more objects inside? How does it change when there are fewer?
Boats afloat
- Fill a tub, sink, or bucket with water.
- Float a bowl on the water. Add animal figurines to the bowl. How many animals can you add before the bowl sinks? What happens when you take one or two out?
- Switch the bowl for a small container or a big container. Does it hold more animals, fewer animals, or the same? Which one holds the most?
Cup bowling
- Line up 6 paper cups like bowling pins.
- Take a few steps back, then roll a beach ball to knock them down.
- Count together how many cups fell. How many are still standing?
- Keep playing until all the cups are down. Try again with more or fewer cups!
Ways to support your child
““Let's add more!” What if we start with fewer cups?”
“How many more will you add?”
“You took 2 out, so now there are 3!”
Everyday interactions
Make ice cubes! Fill each section of the ice tray with water. Want more ice? Fill more sections! After the ice is frozen, take a few cubes out—now there are fewer left in the tray. Add some cubes to a glass. Is it too full? Take one out! As you drink and the ice melts, you have room to add more.
These are fun ways to explore adding and subtracting with ice cubes!
Related Resources
CaregiverActivityUp, Down, and Around
When children crawl under a table, fit toys in a box, or figure out how to get through a narrow path, they are thinking about how to move through or fill up a certain space. Moments like these support spatial thinking—how we understand where objects are and how they move or fit together.
CaregiverActivityBig, Small, and in Between
Young children learn about measuring before they ever use rulers or scales. They practice these skills by pouring water, stacking blocks, or filling containers. Children use their senses and simple tools to explore size, weight, length, temperature, and more. They notice if something is big or small, heavy or light, long or short, or more or less.
CaregiverActivityCircles, Squares, and More!
Shapes are everywhere! Some shapes have names—like circle, square, or triangle. Some shapes don’t have names—like the puddles on the ground or the outline of a favorite toy. Children naturally experience shapes when fitting blocks together, sitting in a circle at story time, or trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Exploring shapes helps them observe, compare, and interact with the world around them.
CaregiverActivitySame and Different
Matching and sorting are key skills that help children learn how things are the same or different. Children might sort and match by color, size, shape, or what things are used for. When they do this, they are learning to compare items, understand groups, notice patterns, and organize information—all important ideas in early math and problem-solving.
CaregiverActivity1, 2, 3!
Numbers and counting help us understand ideas like amounts and sizes. When your child says “one, two, three” while touching three blocks, it helps them see that numbers have meaning. This early practice makes it easier for children to learn other math ideas, like adding, subtracting, and measuring.
EducatorGuideMath Everywhere – Playgroup Guide
You can use or adapt this playgroup structure to maximize playful learning about early math during your playgroup. Be sure to also visit the Math Everywhere collection to download the accompanying Family Activity Sheets. This playgroup guide includes:
CaregiverActivitySnip, Stick, Scribble!
In school, children do lots of activities. They write, draw, paint, and build with different materials. As children do these things, they use tools–scissors to cut paper, paintbrushes to mix colors, and pencils to write letters and numbers.
CaregiverActivityI Can Do It
At home, children can often get one-on-one help with what they need. At school, teachers have many children to care for and may not be able to assist right away. This is why it is important for children to learn to do tasks like zip jackets, put on shoes, and open snack containers. These everyday tasks use fine motor skills—small movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.