Why Early Math Matters – Building Number Sense Alongside Reading

How Parents Can Nurture Number Sense Alongside Literacy

We know how important it is to develop a child’s early reading foundation; it is often the first step in opening the doors to language, creativity, and lifelong learning. Equally important, and sometimes overlooked, is early math development.

Building number sense from a young age helps children grow confident and sets the stage for future learning success, which is just as important as those first words you read together. Children often remember the books they read with their parents; wouldn’t it be amazing to provide a memory of the first time they tackled addition?

Is Reading More Important?

Early reading skills are celebrated for good reasons. Recognizing letters and their sounds is essential for reading, and an emerging print awareness helps children communicate and understand their world. Yet, early math skills are just as important. Early exploration of numbers, patterns, and simple addition through everyday games builds strong mathematical reasoning that will be carried through a child’s life.

Perhaps you have an older child struggling with word problems in math. Typically, those challenges are related to reading comprehension difficulties. However, if the student cannot solve the mathematical operations associated with the word problem, then the whole situation becomes much more challenging to rectify. Reading is important, but a balanced approach of learning both math and reading lays the foundation for well-rounded lifelong learning.

Making Sense of Number Sense

Number sense means understanding how numbers work and relate to each other. Children build this skill through everyday activities, such as counting toys, sorting snacks, spotting patterns, and playing with shapes.

Kumon’s early Math worksheets use this concept by way of counting colorful objects and shapes to help children begin to learn the number sequence, and how to group items. As the levels progress, children learn to write numbers, master the number sequence, and understand simple addition, gradually, and at their own individualized pace. Mental calculation is encouraged early, helping children learn to add without the need for finger counting.

These simple experiences with numbers and patterns lay the groundwork for more advanced mathematical concepts seen later in life.

Unique Benefits of Early Math

Early math skills help children develop logical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. Math is part of everyday life whether it’s measuring ingredients, keeping time, comparing quantities, counting change, or budgeting allowance. These overarching life skills stem from an early understanding of numbers and identifying patterns.

Children who feel comfortable with numbers gain confidence to tackle more complex math as they grow. Teaching math early, when children are eager to learn, sets the stage for future success both in and out of the classroom. As a bonus, we’ve found that preschoolers who study consistently often speed up their rate of progress as they advance, rather than slowing down. This early exposure to math can unlock significant potential for future learning. In fact, in a long-term study of students from the time of school readiness through later academic achievement, researchers found that early math skill development mattered the most as a predictor of not just later academic math success, but later reading success, too. 

Taking the Fear out of Math

While your child may be Kindergarten-aged or younger currently, they won’t be so forever. In the blink of an eye, your child will be immersed in higher level math concepts: multiplication, division, fractions, orders of operations, algebra, and beyond!

Unfortunately for some older students, math can become a source of fear and frustration. When students have a weak mathematical foundation, every new concept that is built upon the previous becomes that much more challenging. While we can certainly turn these struggling students around and unlock their full mathematical potential, it’s much simpler to nurture a love for math when children are young and enthusiastic.

Similarly to how you may be aware that a second (or third!) language can be more easily taught from an early age, think of math as another language more easily taught when young.

Easy Ways to Foster Early Math at Home

• Play counting games with snacks or toys.
• Point out shapes and patterns during walks or playtime.
• Let your child help measure ingredients while cooking.
• Encourage questions about numbers—like “How many apples are in the basket?” or “Which pile has more blocks?”
• Use Kumon Math worksheets for structured, fun learning every day.

Let’s Grow Strong Foundations Together

Just as reading opens minds, early math opens doors to new ways of thinking and school readiness. Supporting number sense alongside literacy helps your child succeed in life.

Kumon’s Math Program can complement your child’s reading journey, and your Instructor can support you in determining when to add Math into your child’s routine. Let’s inspire curiosity, build confidence, and nurture a love for learning, one number at a time.