---
title: "Math Starts Small: Introducing Early Math Concepts"
description: Discover how introducing early math concepts through engaging activities and books can foster a love for learning in infants and toddlers.
---

[All About Books Blog](https://blog.allaboutbooks.org)

# [Math Starts Small: Introducing Early Math Concepts](https://blog.allaboutbooks.org/math)

 Written by [Hannah Slaughter](https://blog.allaboutbooks.org/author/hannah-slaughter) | Oct 23, 2026, 3:30:00 PM

 

Math is all around us—infants and toddlers are naturally introduced to early math concepts as they learn and play. Early math concepts include numbers and counting, but also shapes, opposites, comparisons, colors, and predictions/patterns. When you sing counting songs, talk about more or less, or compare sizes and shapes during reading time, you are helping children begin to build a foundation of math concepts. Research has shown that children with a strong understanding of early math skills go on to develop a greater proficiency in *both* math and reading skills. By incorporating simple and fun math activities into your daily routine, you can help your child develop a love for math from an early age.

For further insight into this topic, we spoke with [**Hannah Slaughter**](https://reachoutandread.org/affiliate/northwest/); Regional Program Director at Reach Out and Read Northwest. With almost 15 years at Reach out and Read, she is well versed in supporting the book needs of sites across Washington and Oregon. Hannah and her RORNW team were instrumental in the creation of the [All About Books Math Packs](https://www.allaboutbooks.org/value-collections/math-packs). These became so popular that we eventually made them available for all AAB customers, and they continue to be a best-selling item.

 

 

**What defines a math concept in early childhood books?**

Math is everywhere! Understanding quantities, sequences, and geometry all represent early math. Concepts like more or less, repeating patterns (red, blue, red, blue), sorting by size and color, shapes, and relative position (over, under) are present in children’s books and can be used to foster conversation. These are the building blocks to learning more advanced math concepts. One fun math concept I already understood but didn’t know the name of until recently is subitizing. It’s the ability to instantly recognize the number of objects in a group without counting them one by one! For example, rolling dice and knowing when it lands on six.

**Why is it important to start introducing math concepts as early as infancy?**

We know that “neurons that fire together, wire together”. The earlier and more often babies are exposed to math concepts, the more neural connections their brains make. These connections are required for logical thinking, spatial awareness, and memory, and contribute to later success in life.

**What qualities make an effective early math concepts book for infants and toddlers?**

It will look different at each stage of development. For infants, point to objects and count them together (How many? One, two, three). Choose books that explore comparison (big, small, near, far) and predictable patterns (fill it up, empty it out).

Toddlers begin to recognize more advanced math concepts like cardinality (the last number in a sequence is the total number in a group), may even start learning how to subitize, can count numbers in a sequence up to double-digits, and can compare size and distance just by looking! We see this in action when a toddler pushes a chair up to the edge of a kitchen counter to reach an item. Select books that explore concepts like stacking objects (big to small, front to back), grouping items by colors, shapes, and sizes, and comparing measurements (full or empty).

**Can you tell us more about the Early Math Initiative and the need for the Math Pack?**

Though early math concepts can be found in just about any children’s book, All About Books’ dedicated Math Pack efficiently and effectively provides high-quality children’s books to foster interactive engagement around math concepts and make it a part of your daily routine! Practicing early math concepts helps reduce math anxiety for both parent and child and is a fun skill-building activity.

[Explore Early Math Concept Titles at All About Books](https://www.allaboutbooks.org/custitembooktheme/Counting--AND--Math,Opposites,Shapes--AND--Sizes)

Browse books about counting, shapes, patterns, opposites and more on our website! We have lots of books to choose from to make learning early math concepts fun and engaging for infants and toddlers to foster a love of learning and set them up for math and reading success later in life. [Check them out here!](https://www.allaboutbooks.org/custitembooktheme/Counting--AND--Math,Opposites,Shapes--AND--Sizes)

[View full post](https://blog.allaboutbooks.org/math)

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