Maths News

Ways parents could build their children's numeracy skills in the kitchen

The kitchen is a fantastic place to develop children's numeracy skills in a fun and practical way. Here are several effective strategies parents can use:

1. Measuring Ingredients

• Use cups, teaspoons, and scales to teach concepts of volume, weight, and fractions (e.g. ½ cup, 1 tablespoon).
• Ask children to double or halve a recipe, encouraging them to use multiplication and division.

2. Counting and Sorting

• Count ingredients (e.g. 10 strawberries, 12 cookies).
• Sort utensils or food items by shape, size, or type.

3. Timing and Estimating

• Read cooking times and set timers (e.g. "Set the timer for 15 minutes").
• Estimate how long tasks will take and compare to actual time.

4. Budgeting and Shopping

• Involve kids in creating a shopping list and estimating costs.
• Compare prices or calculate discounts while shopping.

5. Patterns and Sequences

• Follow step-by-step recipes to understand sequencing and order.
• Identify patterns in food preparation (e.g. layering lasagna).

6. Temperature and Conversions

• Read oven temperatures and convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit if needed.
• Discuss how different temperatures affect cooking times.

7. Geometry and Shapes

• Cut food into halves, quarters, or specific shapes.
• Use cookie cutters to explore geometry (e.g. circles, squares, stars).