Find out more about the link between maths and play
We know play is fantastic for learning as well as being enjoyable and engaging. What’s really fascinating (we think) is that sometimes researchers find connections between play and children’s learning that maybe don’t seem very obvious at first (and even they can’t always explain the connection!).
Professor of Early Years Education at the University of Stavanger, Elin Reikeras, gathered observations of 1,088 toddlers during a three-month period, looking specifically at their maths and play skills.[1]
Brain teaser: is there really such a thing as left and right?
Have you heard people say creative people are ‘right brained’ or scientists are ‘left brained’? Maybe you’ve even looked at your toddler and wondered what kind of brain they’ve got. But is it true that our interests and personality are decided by which side of our brains dominates?
First things first – is the left side of our brain logical and the right side creative and emotional?
How everyday experiences build a foundation for maths and science
If we said your toddler is a scientist, you might wonder what we are talking about – or maybe you see that yourself when you watch them play. Everyday play and routines give your toddler the real experiences that will help them understand the maths and science they will learn in the future.
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How to support your toddler with solving problems
We all face problems on a daily basis, no matter our ages, and your toddler will face them too. Thinking about a problem takes time, resilience, critical thinking, experience, reflection and decision-making. Being able to do all this is VERY complicated and these skills all need nurturing. Let's take a for instance and explore this skill from there:
Your toddler carries a bag with a zip open and everything falls out. They are surprised by the fact they have an empty bag and don’t understand why.
Learning on the job – matching cognitive and physical skills
Toddlers are curious and their brains are continually developing. You may have noticed your toddler thinks a little more about how they play and that they have a plan in mind. Are they trying to place people in particular places, intentionally building towers or carefully putting a train on its track? This is because their cognitive skills are growing, and they’re starting to think, plan and carry out what they intend to do.
Your toddler uses a few thought processes when they are playing
How your toddler learns through their mistakes
Your toddler's gained lots of knowledge about their world and is trying to interpret and apply what they have learned to new things and situations. Sometimes, making a mistake is the first step to learning something new – find out why!
We, as humans, learn from our mistakes[1,2]
I want the big bowl – there’s more in it. Or is there? Your toddler and 'centration'
Your toddler has been learning about all sorts of things while playing and forming many beliefs about the world, attempting to make sense of as much as they can. Now they are starting to use their knowledge to make decisions and assumptions based on what they believe to be true – but really, they will find out that not everything is as they first thought.
Here we look at the idea of centration, a theory devised by psychologist, Jean Piaget, who studied the development of children in the 1900s. Much of his research informs our understanding now.
Are you hurt, teddy? I know how you feel. Why your toddler's toys have feelings
Do you ever talk to your computer when it’s playing up? Does your car have a name, and do you tell it what you think when it won’t start? Don’t worry, you are not alone! For thousands of years the human race has been attributing living qualities to inanimate objects.
They are usually things which carry great significance in our lives. We express our feelings and emotions through them; it is imaginative and creative and the basis of many stories and films.
Show me, tell me, let me have a go – what’s the best way for your toddler to learn?
You might think a lot about how your toddler learns new words and be conscious of the things you say to them (you might even have been tempted by flashcards, word books or tech that promises to teach new vocabulary). But how often do you think about how your toddler learns actions – do they learn from being shown, told, practising, or maybe a bit of all of those?
You teach your toddler without even thinking about it
Do you know what pre-counting skills your toddler is learning, and why maths is really all about play?
When it comes to maths, we probably think of sitting in classrooms learning facts about numbers – and the dread they could inspire. But the good news is that there is a lot more to maths than just numbers, and your toddler is already learning about big mathematical concepts every day as they play. Here’s why playing is so important for early maths skills, and some ways you can ensure you and your toddler make the most of mathematical moments.
Pre-counting experiences and why they’re so important
