Early Childhood Mathematics Education through Play: Tips for Parents

As the society changes under the influence of globalization and digitalization, lately, it is considered as significant to prepare our children for their future lives through promoting development of skills required to live in 21st century. Young children can develop these skills (i.e. critical thinking, or problem-solving skills) through developmentally appropriate mathematics education during early childhood. However, since the ways young children think and learn are different from those of older children or adults, they should be provided interesting and playful learning experiences in mathematics so that they can eventually develop those 21st century skills. Under these circumstances, parents, who make a number of decisions in their children’s lives, need to understand how young children learn and develop math concepts and skills, and should be able to provide developmentally appropriate experiences at home. Strategies and examples of playful learning experiences in mathematics shall be shared at this workshop.