Estimating Activity

Invite your child to estimate the dimensions of his/her room using personal references. For example the length of a piece of printer paper is about 1 foot or an adult’s giant step is about 1 yard. Discuss with your child when estimated measurements are useful (budget planning) and when actual measurements are necessary (shopping for carpet, tile, paint, etc.). Have your child actually measure to see how close the estimates were.

The next time to go clothes shopping, invite your child to calculate prices of discounted items. For example, 10% off $10.00 would mean a discount price of $9.00. (10% or .10 x 10.00 = $1.00) Encourage your child to calculate answers mentally, or invite him/her to bring a calculator.