By means of adult-supported practical experience, children become familiar with sorting, matching, ordering, sequencing and counting activities, forming the basis for mathematics.  As they use their developing mathematical understanding to solve practical problems, children are assisted to learn and use the vocabulary of mathematics, identifying objects by shape, position, size, volume and number.  Songs, games and picture books help children become aware of number sequences and, when they are ready, to use simple mathematical operations such as adding.