Schools seem firmly rooted in the emphasis on computational mastery, and seldom seem to have time to develop other areas of mathematical thinking, such as real-world problem solving and the application of mathematical concepts. All too often, children seem to do well in math in the early grades because they easily memorize the facts and the algorithms needed for computation. However, merely learning arithmetic algorithms is not sufficient preparation for solving real-world problems. Even computational situations such as balancing a checkbook and figuring a tip are grounded in understanding the application of the computation. In the real-world, you are rarely given all the information you need, requiring data collection from a variety of resources. There are usually several viable strategies to approaching the problem. Life has no answer key. Luckily, there are opportunities for young children to practice mathematical thinking at home every day. References to time, for example, lend themselves to real-life problem solving and often take the form of typical phrases: "You have one more minute," "We are leaving at 8:00 for school," or "It takes 45 minutes to get to grandma's house." There is more to the subject of time than being able to successfully read a digital or analog timepiece. What other daily routines can be discussed mathematically? Sequencing and patterns are the foundations of algebraic thinking. Recipes, anything involving money, weather, sports statistics, and shopping, whether at the grocery or toy store, provide parents with many opportunities to share mathematics with their children. In today's school environment, it's even more critical than ever for parents to provide support for mathematical thinking. Parents should play with their children when they are young, letting the children guide the exploration. As children get older, parents should encourage more independent play, but can still interact with their children by asking questions, providing feedback, or playing games with them.