Your Brilliant Baby in Week 24: Using Primitive Arithmetic

So what's a parent to do about this number acumen? Find Baby a math class and drill him on simple arithmetic? No, there's no need. In the course of an average day, your child is learning primitive forms of mathematics: She watches as you put three apples into the fruit bowl, take one away and eat it, leaving two. She sees the accumulation of rings on her stacking toy, and listens as you count them.

In a few weeks, your child will pick up another math skill: the ability to count items and events in a sequence. That will come soon enough, though: For now, simply talk with Baby about adding and taking away items in your everyday life—it's as natural (and simple) as that.

Your Week 24 Toolbox

Related skills and topics this week include …

• What's happening in Baby's sixth month?
• Use our Development Tracker to check off your child's 4-7 month milestones.
• Here's what our pediatrician says you might be worried about this month.