Materials: Food labels or cash register tape, paper, and pencil

Who says reading and math don't mix? In this activity, children solve simple word problems based on the price of food. 

Ask your child to select a canned or boxed food item. Remove product labels that have the prices still attached. Write out a word problem involving some of the items for your child to solve. For example: I bought one big box of raisins for $7.99. I also bought a package of snack-size boxes for $1.29. How much money did I spend altogether on raisins? 

A more advanced mathematician may be able to handle problems involving several different operations. For example: Last week I bought oranges at two pounds for a dollar. This week they are three pounds for a dollar. I paid $2.50 this week. How many pounds of oranges did I buy? How much would the same amount have cost last week?