Colorado's Gov. Polis Joins Push to Get Math Into Your Child's Next Checkup

The next time you take your child to a well-child visit, your pediatrician might ask about more than reading. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has joined five other governors in urging the American Academy of Pediatrics to issue guidance encouraging doctors to talk with families about early math development during routine checkups.

The letter, published July 23, 2026, asks the AAP to develop early math recommendations for pediatricians that would parallel the organization's existing landmark literacy guidance. If the AAP acts on it, talking about numeracy-building activities could become a standard part of what happens during your child's annual visit.

What the Governors Are Asking For

The coalition includes governors from six states: Dan McKee of Rhode Island, Wes Moore of Maryland, Jared Polis of Colorado, Ned Lamont of Connecticut, Matt Meyer of Delaware, and Josh Stein of North Carolina.

Their ask is specific. The governors want pediatricians to have evidence-based recommendations they can share with families about activities that support foundational numeracy, the same way they already have guidance on reading aloud and early literacy. The tools they highlighted are accessible and low-cost: board games and card games, starting as early as infancy.

The AAP's early literacy guidance, which encouraged pediatricians to promote reading aloud starting at birth, has been widely credited with changing how families and doctors think about early language development. Governors behind this new push believe a similar approach for numeracy could have the same effect.

Why This Matters for Colorado Springs Families

Most parents know that reading to kids early is important. The science on early literacy has been communicated so consistently, through pediatricians, schools, and public health campaigns, that it's become part of how families think about parenting from infancy.

Math development hasn't received that same consistent early attention, even though research shows that early numeracy skills are strong predictors of later academic success. Kids who enter kindergarten with foundational number sense, an understanding of quantities, patterns, and basic counting, tend to build more easily on math skills as they progress through school.

The pediatrician's office is a uniquely powerful place to communicate that message because nearly every family with young children passes through it regularly. Well-child visits happen on a schedule from birth through adolescence, which gives pediatricians repeated opportunities to check in, ask questions, and share guidance about development.

Governor Polis's participation in this initiative gives it direct local relevance for Colorado Springs families. If the AAP responds by issuing new guidance, Colorado would already have state-level support for the effort.

What It Looks Like in Practice

Early math doesn't require worksheets or structured lessons. The board games and card games that governors mentioned in their letter are the same kinds of play that kids are drawn to anyway. A simple game involving dice, counting spaces, or matching numbers introduces numeracy concepts in context, through play, before a child ever sets foot in a classroom.

For infants and toddlers, even simpler activities count: sorting objects, counting steps as you walk up them, pointing out numbers on signs during daily errands. The premise behind the governors' letter is that pediatricians can normalize these conversations the same way they've normalized reading aloud -- not as a pressure but as a practical suggestion families can use with what they already have at home.

The AAP has not yet issued a response to the letter. This is the beginning of a policy push, not a final decision. But the coalition behind it is bipartisan and includes governors from states across the country, which suggests the conversation will continue.

What's Next

• The AAP has not yet issued early math guidance -- this letter is the push, and the organization's response will determine next steps
• At your child's next well-child visit, you can bring up early math development with your pediatrician directly -- you don't need to wait for formal guidance
• Board games, card games, and counting activities are accessible starting points families can use at home today
• The original letter was published via GlobeNewswire on July 23, 2026, and is publicly available for families who want to read the full text
• Colorado parents can follow updates from Governor Polis's office and the AAP for news on whether new guidance is issued