Can toddlers and preschoolers grasp basic math concepts? Can parents help? The research says, “Yes!” In fact, neuroscientists have discovered that our brains are hardwired to grasp number concepts from a very early age. A recent study found that if parents use number words in everyday conversation with their toddlers and preschoolers, the children do better in math when they reach elementary school. This month, we have many features that you can use to talk about numbers. In “Mice Tales” (pages 16 and 17), we ask children to count members of a mouse family to determine quantity and add groups of mice together. As you read and talk about “Six Spotted Seals” (pages 20 to 23), your child will see what happens each time a seal leaves the group. Have fun talking about numbers with your little ones!