The purpose of the study was to develop a mathematics education program utilizing food to improve the mathematical abilities of 4-year-old children and to analyze the effects of this program on 4-years olds’ mathematical concept (number and operation, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability).
The study selected 30 4-year-old children of two daycare center located in K city. The experiment group(N=15) participated in the mathematics education program utilizing food, 10 times for five weeks, and while the comparative group(N=15) participated in subject of life and seasonally mathematics education program based on Nuri curriculum.
The measuring tool used in this study was ‘Evaluation Tools for Young Children''s Math Ability based on Content Standards of NCTM'' developed by Kim Ji-young(2004).
For data processing and analysis, pre-test and post-test scores differences between the two groups were analyzed through MANCOVA.

The results of the study were as follows.
It was shown that those children of the experiment group performing mathematics education programs utilizing food was significantly increased in the total score of mathematical ability, compared with those of the comparative group. And it was surveyed that those children of the experiment group performing mathematics program utilizing food was significantly in creased in the scores of five mathematical concepts (number and operation, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability), compared with those of the comparative group.
Based on the results of the study, it was identified that mathematics education program utilizing food have positive effects on 4-year-old children'' s mathematical ability.
Accordingly, mathematic education program utilizing food would be recommended as pedagogical data necessary to develop children''s mathematical ability in children education agencies, family or parenting education.