For Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 Students
Back-to-school season is a time of fresh starts, sharpened pencils, and growing minds. For kids in senior kindergarten through Grade 2, math skills can make a big difference in their confidence and success in the classroom.
At these stages, children move from recognizing numbers to solving problems, spotting patterns, and thinking critically. This checklist will help you make sure your child is ready, with examples from my workbook, Master Early Math Skills with Fun Activities for Early Learners, designed for this exact age group.
Confident Number Recognition (Up to 100)
By the start of Grade 1, kids should recognize numbers up to 50, and by Grade 2, up to 100.
At-home activity:
Use a 100-chart and ask your child to find random numbers you call out.
💡 From the workbook:
The “Find the Missing Number” & “Math Bingo” pages turn this into a fun seek-and-find game that builds speed and accuracy.
Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s
Skip-counting is the stepping stone to multiplication and helps with quick mental math.
At-home activity:
Clap, hop, or stomp while counting in 2s, 5s, or 10s for a movement-based approach.
💡 From the workbook:
The “Skip Count Challenge from 2’s to 10’s” pages include number patterns for counting practice.
Understanding Odd and Even Numbers
By Grade 1, children should recognize odd and even numbers up to at least 20; by Grade 2, they should apply this knowledge to larger numbers.
At-home activity:
Write numbers on cards, mix them up, and have your child sort them into “odd” and “even” piles. You can make it a timed game for extra fun.
💡 From the workbook:
The “Odd or Even?” page helps children identify and practice odd and even numbers by coloring them, making number patterns easy and fun to spot.
Single- digit and Double-DIgit Addition Facts
In SK, children start with small sums to 10. By Grade 1, they should work up to 20, and in Grade 2, start mastering facts to 50.
At-home activity:
Play “Math Café” — pretend to serve snacks, and have your child calculate totals or change.
💡 From the workbook:
Our “Dice Addition” and “Single-Digit Number Addition” activities provide fun, hands-on practice, and answers are included to help children check their work and build confidence.
Understanding Place Value
By Grade 1, children should know tens and ones; in Grade 2, they start hundreds.
At-home activity:
Use blocks or LEGO to build numbers (10-blocks for tens, singles for ones).
💡 From the workbook:
The “Tens and Ones” section turns place value into a visual illustration, helping children understand how numbers are composed and making learning more interactive
Solving Word Problems
Word problems help kids apply math to real-life situations.
At-home activity:
Ask real-world questions like, “If we have 8 apples and give 3 to Grandma, how many are left?”
💡 From the workbook:
The “Single-digit and Double-digit word problem” pages introduce short, age-appropriate word problems.
Building a Positive Math Mindset
From SK to Grade 2, a child’s attitude toward math can shape their future learning. Celebrate progress and focus on effort.
At-home activity:
Have a “Math Star of the Day” moment where your child teaches you a problem.
💡 From the workbook:
The mix of activities, with a variety of exercises in Master Early Math Skills, keeps children engaged while building their confidence in math.
Tip for Parents
Consistency is key. Just 10–15 minutes of math practice a day keeps skills sharp and helps children feel confident in the classroom.
If you’d like ready-to-use activities tailored for senior kindergarten to Grade 2, check out our ” The Boarding Nest’s Addition Workbook for Early Learners: Build Strong Math Skills Through Simple Addition Activities and Practice Pages”, designed to make learning fun, colorful, and stress-free.
It’s always better to start early and introduce concepts at home. You don’t need to wait for a formal classroom framework or rely solely on teachers. Starting at home helps children build foundational knowledge, strengthen confidence, and improve interpersonal and problem-solving skills before they encounter new concepts at school.
Haji | The Boarding Nest
Helping parents turn learning into joyful memories
