Children begin learning math from the moment they start interacting with the environment around them. Every skill, from identifying shapes and patterns to counting, develops from what is familiar to them.
This early learning is not limited to explicitly mathematical activities, but also includes everyday interactions such as playing, organizing objects, or even performing simple daily tasks like setting the table. Frequent exposure to these small challenges contributes to the gradual development of essential math skills.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the pace of mathematical skill development is different for each child. In other words, learning this subject is not automatic; it is the “result of the student’s effort and equitable instruction,” as noted by the Erikson Institute. This difference in learning paces highlights the importance of offering personalized experiences to meet the needs of each child.
Math skills can be developed through two pathways: formal and intentional teaching, which is provided in schools or kindergartens, and through learning in informal contexts like the home. The latter is essential, as everyday interactions offer countless opportunities for math practice.
Teaching at home can be carried out in different ways:
How to support your child at home: Early math skills
- Observe them during moments when they are playing freely to know when to offer support. For example, if they skip a number while counting their toys, you can suggest counting together again and emphasize the missed number. Additionally, these play moments are an excellent opportunity to develop metacognitive skills, such as identifying and correcting his own mistakes.
- Support your child only when they need it. If you offer help when it’s not required, you may give the wrong impression that you don’t trust them to accomplish it on their own. However, it’s important to stay alert and be ready to intervene at the right moment, providing support only when they face a real challenge. In this way, the child will feel supported but also capable of solving problems on their own.
- Expand their experiences to other dimensions. For example, if they are playing with a shape and say, “the one with this shape,” you can specify that with the correct term: “The one with the triangular shape.” It’s also helpful to accompany the observation with questions that encourage reflection: “What other shapes can we find in this place?” or “How could you organize these shapes differently?” These types of questions promote critical thinking and stimulate the development of mathematical concepts through active exploration.
The main skills they develop in this regard are: counting, understanding quantities, sorting, recognizing patterns, and identifying sizes and shapes.
Methods to work on early math skills:
Games and playful activities. Building games, block games, or digital games are very effective for teaching these concepts.
The role of parents and teachers. Both can incorporate mathematical activities into their daily routine, such as counting objects, sorting items, or playing with the concept of “more” or “less.”
Create learning spaces that are filled with games, books, and creative activities. These environments promote the acquisition of these skills.
Why are early math skills important?
Developing math skills as early as possible brings a wide range of benefits. According to the Erikson Institute, math, in addition to being “creative,” provides children with tools to solve problems they may encounter in their own lives.
Children who begin to develop a solid understanding of math from an early age tend to be more confident when facing challenges, whether at school or in daily life.
On the other hand, early math skills provide a simple yet solid foundation of concepts that the child will deepen as they progress in their academic journey. In fact, various studies show that early math skills are “closely linked” to academic success in primary and secondary levels, both in math and reading. But, primarily, they strengthen the development of other skills such as problem-solving, logical reasoning, and spatial awareness.
It is also important to stimulate interest in mathematics and escape the collective idea that these subjects are ‘complicated’ or only for the ‘gifted.’ From childhood, children should learn to associate mathematics with creativity and fun, not with obstacles or frustration. In this context, you, the parents, play an essential role.
Likewise, it is vital to cultivate a growth mindset. in children, to enhance early learning. The growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and ability develop with practice. The opposite would be the ‘fixed mindset,’ which reduces ambition, as its philosophy is that qualities are fixed traits and, therefore, cannot be changed. Educating them in A growth mindset allows them to face mathematical challenges with resilience, without fear of failure, and with the confidence that, with effort and perseverance, they can overcome any obstacle.
Learn more about our teaching methodology
At Casvi International American School, we work from Nursery, Pre-School, and Kindergarten on the interaction and understanding of young children with mathematics, through games, playful activities, and songs.
This early exposure to mathematical skills will not only help them face higher-level mathematics with greater ease, but also structure and train their minds. In other words, it lays the foundation for their critical thinking, logical reasoning, and creativity when facing challenges.
If you want to know more about our teaching methodology, visit our website or contact with our Admissions Department.
