A Parent’s Guide to Early Childhood Numeracy is designed to help parents and caregivers nurture early math skills in children from birth to age five. The program shows how children begin learning important math concepts through everyday play, interaction, and exploration from the very beginning of life.

Strong, nurturing relationships and meaningful one-on-one interactions play a critical role in a child’s healthy development socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Simple moments—like playing together, responding to a child’s cues through serve-and-return interactions, and engaging in daily routines—help build secure attachments and lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

From birth to age eight, a child’s brain develops more rapidly than at any other time, forming more than one million new neural connections every second. During these early years, children naturally begin developing foundational numeracy skills such as counting, comparing, sorting, and recognizing patterns through playful, hands-on experiences.

This initiative helps families recognize how everyday moments—stacking blocks, sorting toys, singing songs, and playing games—can become powerful opportunities for learning and building early math confidence.

A Parent’s Guide to Early Childhood Numeracy was created by Lisa Murphy, Sherinda Hawkins, and Carolyn Deerman, and is offered through IMPACT Learning Center as part of our commitment to supporting families and strengthening early learning across Jackson County.