Mathematics in the Early Years Foundation Stage

Mathematics is one of the seven learning areas in Early Years and it involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding, and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measure. Early math skills are being used by children throughout their activities, experiences, and daily routines, whether at school or at home. For example, becoming familiar with their routines such as brushing their teeth, getting dressed, taking a nap, and learning about going shopping with their parents can all become mathematics learning opportunities.

Mathematics is Everywhere! It plays a major role in a child’s development and helps children make sense of the world around them. Children between the age of one to five years old are beginning to explore patterns and shapes, compare sizes and count objects. Mathematics play is evident in pretend play, block play, literacy play, outdoor play and science play. Parents and Teachers play an important role in influencing and being a role model for children by providing opportunities for children to learn and develop new skills. We need to allow children to direct their own play and support them by enhancing or extending their play. Children need opportunities to:

• Discover and create.
• Use number concepts and skills to explore.
• Develop confidence in their ability to think things through.
• Solve meaningful problems.
• Create connections to help discover relationships (e.g. characteristics).