Growing Up with Numbers

In primary school, I often wondered about the importance of math. I didn’t really grasp its significance until high school, and I was grateful that my math teachers emphasised it so much.

Fostering a love for math should start early, even before a child enters kindergarten. Simple, play-based learning and fun games are essential in early childhood. Young kids are naturally curious about their surroundings. They ask countless questions and begin to understand the world based on what they observe. Introducing math during this exploratory stage is crucial. It builds the foundation for their cognitive growth and helps them make sense of their environment.

As a result, they gain problem-solving skills that are important in real life. I remember my mom involving me in everyday tasks, like baking cupcakes. I learned to measure ingredients and calculate how much to pay the friendly cafeteria workers at school for my lunch.

These experiences can help make math less intimidating as we get older. Instead of seeing math as just a school subject, children learn to view it as a valuable tool in their daily lives.