Maths is more than just numbers and calculations. It’s a way of thinking and reasoning that helps us understand the world around us. That’s why it’s so important to start teaching the language of math in the early years. By using terms like “larger than” and “greater than” children can begin to understand concepts like size and quantity. The cooking classes at our Wimbledon Nursery use all these mathematical ideas. And by asking questions like “how many more,” they can start to develop problem-solving skills. Of course, math isn’t just about numbers. It’s also about patterns, shapes, and spatial relationships. With a little thought, Parents can grasp opportunities to teach these concepts to their children.
How many shapes can you see in that house? How about in that tree? If you’re looking for them, you’ll start to notice patterns, shapes and spatial relationships everywhere you go. Our Victorian building Hammersmith nursery is a myriad of shapes. And the park location of our Colliers Wood nursery is an amazing collage of spatial relationships. These are great opportunities to teach your child the language of maths. Every time you spot a triangle in a building or a square in a piece of art, point it out and name the shape. As your child grows older, you can start to talk about more complex concepts like symmetry and tessellation. By helping your child to see the world through the lens of mathematics, you’ll be giving them a valuable skill that will stay with them for life.