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At Clovel Childcare, we have an unwavering conviction that the most effective way to expedite children’s learning is through fun, adventure, play, and loving guidance. Stimulating their curiosity and driving their fascination with a world filled with myriad tastes, textures, smells, sights, and other sensory delights are cornerstones of healthy learning and growth as individuals.
Early math skills in Australia are the perfect foundation block for future learning, especially in subjects like science and technology. Early math education programs help lay the groundwork for increasingly complex ideas and concepts, developing recognition and practical comprehension skills critical for the vast wealth of knowledge and exploration children will experience in their young lives. Some specific examples of the benefits of developing math skills in young children include:
Forming a solid ability to engage with numbers and math is fundamental to developing critical and analytical thinking and logical problem-solving
Despite what many people believe, math is involved in many areas of life beyond dealing with numbers. It can be found in everything from patterns and shapes to spatial relationships, predicting outcomes, and everyday life experiences.
The ability to solve math problems and be encouraged and congratulated for doing so boosts children’s confidence and drives their curiosity. A sense of accomplishment and subsequent reward are fundamental to taking on new challenges.
Although numeracy development activities must be carefully designed and delivered to retain children’s interest and engagement, they play an almost unmatched role in rapid development and potential for future academic success. Fun-filled, numeracy and math-rich environments can positively affect children’s earliest learning experiences. Some essential skills to focus on include:
Recognising numbers
The ability to recognise and name numbers and associate them with quantities is fundamental.
Counting
The foundation of all number use, counting can be introduced very early and is critical to future development.
Basic patterns and shapes
Spatial awareness and logical, practical thinking are essential for general understanding and development and are represented well by learning these concepts.
Classifying and sorting
Recognising similarities and differences is a great way to help children develop and gain insight as they grow.
Simple math (addition and subtraction)
The building blocks of all written math that will follow; the sooner children can grasp these concepts, the better.
Measuring
Physical activities like measuring objects' length, width, height, and weight and comparing them help cement these crucial skills.
Spatial reasoning
Understanding directions and positions is vital to develop spatial awareness.
Problem-solving
These tasks encourage perseverance, critical thinking, and analysing options and are a foundation of almost all learning.
At Clovel Childcare, we firmly believe that developing numeracy skills through play is the way forward, and our carefully formulated numeracy programs are heavily focused on the fun side of numbers. Luckily, this is something that parents and carers can continue and work on outside Clovel hours, with a range of engaging activities that include:
There are many superb opportunities to play counting games as we go about our daily lives with young children. From discovering how many boxes of a favourite cereal are on the shelf at the supermarket to guessing how many blocks will be needed to build a colourful tower, the list is endless. Counting the number of steps as we climb a flight of stairs. Once focusing on the number of things as a family becomes second nature, everything else will slip seamlessly into place.
Another activity that can be instigated in almost any location or circumstance. Children love hiding and hunting for things, so creating simple ‘find the shape’ games is easy and helps cement recognition and pronunciation.
Look for patterns everywhere and encourage youngsters to join you. Create your own in many ways, from using coloured beads, building blocks, or even sweeties if it’s time for a treat! Choose simple patterns at first and build towards more complex ones.
One of the most effective numeracy development activities involves encouraging children to identify the properties of particular objects and sort them accordingly. As children grow and develop, this system is invaluable in categorising more objects by complex, abstract criteria.
Excellent for developing math skills in young children, many board games involve elements of number recognition, counting, problem-solving, sorting, and strategic thinking. Find your family favourites, and don’t be afraid to customise them to target specific skills.
Cooking together can be an excellent way to practice early math skills in Australia. Measuring, counting, following specific steps, and analysing the results are all integral to developing basic skills and critical thinking.
Building and constructing shapes with blocks and other materials is a superb way to develop spatial awareness and a deeper understanding of shapes and sizes.
Thousands of children’s books incorporate elements of math and problem-solving. Make as much use of them as possible and remember that you can also create simple stories that target things you have experienced and learned during the day.
Certain outdoor activities provide opportunities to reinforce numbers, counting, and other mathematical principles. From jumping rope, bouncing on a trampoline, playing catch, and many more.
Although it is unwise to rely too heavily on devices that quickly become addictive and all-consuming, thousands of interactive games and apps can aid your child’s overall development. Always offer support and guidance to keep things focused and set time limits for phones and tablets but always remembering that small screens such as phones are detrimental to your child’s eye health.
If you’re ready to learn more about Clovel Childcare and our comprehensive, loving approach to early math skills in Australia, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
Our experienced representatives have information about everything from our outstanding preschool program and meals menu to our method of communicating with parents and carers, Kindyhub. We also have a superb collection of informative blogs offering meaningful insights into many aspects of education, early math education programs, and development strategies for our youngest learners.
Choosing your child’s childcare and early learning centre is one of the biggest decisions you will ever have to make for your child. If you have more questions for us or would like to book a tour of one of our centres, please fill out our form and we’ll be in touch!
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