Learning Tip: Constancy

Learning Tip: Constancy

Conservation of number—the concept that the number of things does not change when they are rearranged—is more difficult to grasp than learning how to count.

To help your child grasp this concept, draw six dots on a piece of paper. Ask your child to count the dots moving from left to right. Then ask your child to recount the dots moving from right to left. If your child does not recognize that that the number of dots stays constant regardless of the starting point, try the same exercise using with a smaller number of dots.

Alternatively, you can line up five objects (buttons, candles, jellybeans) for your child to count and then rearrange them into a circle for him to count again.