As we were waiting for our food at the table and just hanging out, Hayden started pulling out a few of the sugar/sweetener packets. So part of the fun was to drive the Ferrari (friend of choice for the evening) across the table and onto or around the packets.

Being a guy, I suggested we should see how many packets the Ferrari could drive over, which lead to something really cool. Hayden's first subtraction interaction. I didn't have any intention of doing this, it just started with a simple question and he ran with it. Here's how it played out.

"Hayden how many sugar packets are there in that row?"

"One, two, three,...., seven".

"Yep, that's right. How about we start with five?"

"Ok."

At this point he takes two packets away to the side. Now, honestly this is what I was hoping he'd do but I didn't think he would. So, I get this excited feeling and give M the holy sh* did he just do what I think he just did look. At this point I decide to run with it.

"Ok, here goes... Oh bummer five is too many. Let's try four".

He removes one from the row.

"Ok, here goes... Hmm four is too many. Let's try three".

He removes one from the row.

"Ok, here goes... Dang three is too many. Let's try two".

He removes one from the row.

"Ok, here goes... Shucks two is too many. Let's try one".

He removes one from the row.

"Ok, here goes... Yay it worked"

I don't know about you, but I think that counts as his first exposure to subtraction. I couldn't've picked a better way to introduce it. -- cjm