In the early years, children are curious and playful when they experience and explore their worlds. They move themselves and objects within space, put things together and break apart, they experiment, and notice features that they can use in new activities, or adapt to suit the activity at hand. A maths way of thinking involves exploring and arranging their activities in ways that show structure or regularity. Patterns are an example of regularity that children use to model and to make sense of their world. When children create drawings or constructions, they are both representing their thinking and using it for further explorations. These important maths processes of using patterns, making models, and re-presenting ideas with drawings or symbolic markings are also ways of communicating their ideas within their cultural, social and spatial worlds.
Life-long benefits
As children grow, maths helps them to explore and understand the world; contribute to the life of their community as critical thinkers and engaged citizens; benefit positive health, wellbeing, and employment outcomes; and realise the dreams and ambitions they have for their lives, whānau and their community.
Our children and young people live in a rapidly changing, highly connected, and digitally advanced world. Strong foundations in maths, critical thinking and communication are essential to participate successfully in this world. Life course research (McNaughton et al, 2018) tells us that maths, along with social and emotional, oral language and literacy capabilities, are crucial to positive educational and life outcomes.
