When I was in 2nd grade, I remember standing in the front space of my dad’s scooter for commuting. To keep me away from distracting him, he used to keep me busy by asking to observe the number plates of the vehicles around and do simple calculations. I had to add the numbers in the number plate of the vehicles and tell him if it’s odd or even. OR even tell him sometimes if it is divisible by 3 or 4 or even 5 or 10 or even multiply. It helped me to observe my surroundings and understand that Maths is not all about writing and calculating but also about honing my mental ability of observation as well as of calculation. I still do it whenever I stop at red lights. But the result is arrived at much quickly than before. J
Another activity my mom used to do with us was help us make sections in our dinner plates so that different things can be kept neatly and not stacked on the plates. For example, if there were 3 dishes for lunch, we would have to divide the plate into 3 parts. Not with a pencil or pen, but with spoons. We would just move the food into 3 separate sections of the plate. It helped me and my brother in picturing fractions at a young age. Later on, the same concept helped us in pictorial representations, geometry and percentages.
Not everyone is born with an aptitude for mathematics but everyone can develop the love for the subject. We can surely provide the right stimulation for it. Gradually the child may start developing the love for the subject or more importantly stop fearing it.
We should work on the latter, that is, on helping overcome the fear of the subject or any subject for that matter, by making it a part of our and their day to day activities. My parents did it with us and the result has been favourable.
If we look around, there are many ways in which Mathematics is a part of daily life. We see shapes around us, count the distance between our rooms in steps and compare the distance a ball can travel as a competition between friends or siblings. Children today, can be made a part of shopping or cooking, washing or cleaning. They would enjoy it, but only if we don’t overdo it. I take my 6 year old son for grocery shopping. We shop for vegetables and fruits together and reinforce the concept of counting. He can identify the expiry dates on bakery items and helps me pick up the bread which will last longer. I did not teach him to do so. He observed me doing it and picked it up. He can also compare the prices of his favourite things like biscuits, chocolates, toy cars etc.
Kids love cooking nowadays, thanks to shows like Master Chef. So many concepts can be enforced through it, like measurement, comparison, shapes. The list is a long one. I involve my son in baking. He measure out cups of flour and sugar, though it creates a mess on the kitchen counter. He can set out the timer for baking or heating. A simple task such as folding socks, towels and pillow covers helps them to observe and learn about symmetry. Making them read the trip meter on the car or bike or the time before starting a trip and after reaching the destination helps make them understand long and short distances and duration of time taken.
Let us provide and create a stimulating environment for our kids today. Times have changed. Kids are learning and growing at a rapid pace. We need to give them ample opportunities to play and learn, so that the learning is lifelong as it has been practically experienced by them in real life rather than by just reading a book or just watching a movie. But also lets not make it all work and no play. Let us understand when to stop and just let them be. Let us give them the real life experiences which will last much longer than their current academic years. Let them be kids too, and gain experience at their own pace. They will surely learn when the time is right for them.
Written by Natasha Anugrah Lall for XtraEdge Learning solutions