An estimate is a sensible rough amount. It doesn’t need to be exact. Estimating helps a child judge quantity and decide whether an answer or plan is reasonable.

Ask for a range

Use an ordinary task such as filling a container, choosing a bag or preparing food. Ask for a sensible range before checking.

For example:

• Will the jar hold closer to 20 or 100 counters?

• Will two or five spoonfuls fill the bowl?

• Is the journey likely to take nearer 10 minutes or an hour?

Accept a reasonable range. Measure or count afterwards and compare the result with the estimate.

Build reference points

Help the child remember useful reference points: the length of a ruler, the capacity of a mug, the weight of a bag of sugar or the time taken to walk to school. Future estimates can then be based on something known.

Ask, “What familiar amount helped you decide?” rather than simply saying whether the estimate was right or wrong.

Keep it low pressure

One estimate within a practical activity is enough. Repeated questioning can make ordinary tasks feel like assessment. Praise the child for using a sensible reference and adjusting their judgement after checking.

A useful free resource

National Numeracy’s Family Maths Toolkit contains practical activities that connect maths with everyday life. You need to give an email address to get them. Choose an activity that matches what school is currently teaching rather than trying to cover several skills at once.

Talamo has no commercial relationship with any of the organisations named here. We suggest them only because we think they could be useful to families.