Understanding Number Sense: A Parent’s Guide

What is Number Sense?

Number sense is the ability to understand quantities. This can be understanding the difference between less than, more than, that 1 & one means the same thing, 10 is greater than 2, that there are 10 strawberries in a single group.

Common errors when learning?

As Number sense is a broad skill, children will come across many challenges learning how to understand this concept. Once again get your child to slow down and revisit the concept if errors were made, try to give them hints or guide them in the right direction by asking them questions about the problem. With the power of persistence and positive reinforcement all concepts can be mastered by your child in due time.

What is the benefit of Number Sense?

Number sense allows children to be confident in their numeracy and mathematical learning to help them problem solve and develop a greater understanding of quantities, recognise the relationship between numbers and linking numbers to real world contexts.

How to teach your child at home?

A few fun activities to explore while teaching your child the concept of number sense include:

Have a small jar with marbles or jellybeans (it doesn’t need to be filled entirely) and ask your child to estimate how many marbles or jellybeans there are inside the jar, you can then count them together to see how close or far away your estimates were.

Cut up pieces of fruit and divide them among yourself and your child, ask the child which plate has more fruit in it? Or Are 5 even slices of apple greater or lesser than 3 even slices of apple?