Kindergarten Math Skill Spotlight: Number Sense

Why does number sense matter in Kindergarten? 

In kindergarten, the most important math skill your child will build is number sense. It’s the difference between a child who can simply recite the numbers 1 to 10 and a child who truly understands what those numbers mean.

Think of it this way: number sense is a child's intuitive understanding of how numbers work. It's what allows a child, when you say "five," to not just say the word back, but to:

• Hold up five fingers.

• Count out five blocks from a pile.

• Recognize that a group of five dots is bigger than a group of three dots.

Without this deep understanding, counting is just a memorized song; it has no real meaning. Building strong number sense is the foundation for all future math learning, from adding and subtracting to eventually understanding fractions. It gives children the confidence to work flexibly with numbers and see math in the world all around them.

What is my child learning? 

For this week’s Dancing Panda activity, your child is practicing core number sense skills, including:

• Comparing quantities quickly to see which is bigger or smaller.

• Using math language like "greater than," "less than," and "equal to."

• Understanding the value of numbers (e.g., knowing that 7 is more than 4).

• Building the foundation for addition and subtraction by thinking about "how many more" are needed to make two numbers the same.

This week’s Dancing Panda activity 

📅 Coming tomorrow: My Number, Your Number — a fun, screen-free game for your child to practice comparing numbers using just their fingers. Look for it in your text tomorrow!