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Every parent wants their child to be a curious learner. And when it comes to numbers, shapes, and patterns, nurturing mathematical thinking early on can set the stage for lifelong confidence and competence in maths.
Mathematical thinking is about recognising relationships, spotting patterns, and reasoning through problems rather than just memorising facts. It involves asking questions like “how many?” or “which is bigger?”. It includes activities such as stacking blocks to see which tower stands tallest or lining up toys to compare lengths, think of any activity that involves maths.
This thinking is the foundation that prepares children for more formal arithmetic later on. It turns maths into a playful, everyday adventure, and eliminates the fear of numbers from their minds.
● Boosts Cognitive Development: When kids engage with numbers, their brain gets better at problem-solving. This improves memory, attention, and logical reasoning.
● Enhances Language & Communication: Kids with mathematical thinking can describe quantities, positions, and compare things, strengthening vocabulary and expressive skills.
● Builds Confidence & Curiosity: Matching shapes successfully contributes to early wins, encouraging kids to tackle new challenges with confidence.
● Supports Academic Readiness: Preschoolers with a grasp of maths may find formal schooling smoother, as they can effectively add, subtract, and recognise patterns.
● Develops Everyday Life Skills: Practical maths is everywhere, from measuring rice to sharing sweets equally, making it necessary for your child’s life skills development.
When blended seamlessly into your child’s daily play, maths is no longer a burdensome concept. Here are some fun ways to do so:
Children love to wiggle and jump. Turn counting into a full-body activity by asking your pre-schooler to hop three times, clap twice, or march around the room counting each step. Not only does this satisfy their need to move, but it also reinforces one-to-one correspondence and number recall in a fun, energetic way.
For this fun activity, you can use common household items, like buttons, lentils, or coloured stones, to create sorting and matching challenges. Tell your child to sort beads by colour, count out groups of five rotis, or match sock pairs from the laundry pile. These tactile tasks build number sense and classification skills.
Blending shapes and numbers with craft fosters pre-math concepts for nursery kids. For example, cut out shapes from coloured paper and ask your child to glue them in pairs based on matching patterns. These craft activities strengthen their shape recognition, sequencing, and fine motor skills all at once.
Rhymes like “Five Little Monkeys” or Hindi counting songs are perfect for introducing number sequences and simple subtraction concepts.
Take a large chart with headers and columns. Introduce small magnets or figurines and ask your child to sort each one into its relevant category.
For example, you can have categories such as farm and jungle animals and present figurines of animals, like pigs, goats, lions, tigers, and more. Your child will have to pick one animal and place it under the correct heading. This builds their categorisation skills.
Point out numbers on street signs or count steps as you climb the stairs with your child. You can even chat about prices at the local kirana shop, such as asking them to find the appropriate note to hand over. These activities make maths feel practical and meaningful, helping them see that it lives around them.
Playing with blocks, jigsaw puzzles, or simple shape sorters develops pre-maths concepts in nursery-ready kids. Challenge your child to build a tower taller than their favourite toy or to complete a puzzle. This supports their understanding of space and geometry.
Arithmetic as a subject in schools can be intimidating for kids. But using basic arithmetic concepts in everyday activities helps reduce this math fear.
Place three mangoes on one plate and five on another, then discuss which plate has more and which has fewer, and how many more. You can do the same and encourage kids to add and subtract items.
Ask simple, open-ended questions, like “How can we share these six biscuits equally among three friends?” Encourage your child to explain their reasoning, celebrate creative solutions, and guide them with hints rather than answers. This nurtures logical thinking and problem-solving.
While hands-on play is vital, selective use of apps or digital games can reinforce concepts in an engaging format. Look for interactive learning apps that use relatable scenarios and encourage your child to solve puzzles, count objects, or match shapes. But always supervise screen time to ensure balance.
Focusing on cultivating mathematical thinking in kids from an early age through fun activities not only builds their confidence but also removes the fear of numbers and maths as a subject later in life!
Chitra Khanna is the Content Strategist at KLAY Preschools & Daycare, where she leads content creation focused on early childhood education and parenting. With a background in digital marketing and a passion for empowering families, Chitra develops resources that engage and inform parents, helping them navigate the critical stages of their children’s development. Her creative approach and deep understanding of educational trends ensure that her content is both relevant and impactful. Outside of work, Chitra enjoys exploring new learning methodologies and contributing to discussions on child welfare and growth.
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