Introduction To Mathematics in Preschool
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ScribdTranslationsIntroduction To Mathematics in Preschool
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ScribdTranslationsIntroduction to Mathematics I
Welcome!
Answer the following questions.
What is preschool?
What ages are included in preschool education?
Do you think it is important for children to start taking classes before primary school?
What is mathematics?
Why do you think it is important to consider mathematics from preschool age?
Was mathematics invented or discovered?
How can mathematics be perceived in creation?
What is mathematics…
Mathematics is the science of structure, order and repetitive factors. It is based on counting, measuring and
describing shapes. Its object of study is magnitudes, quantities and their changes in time and space.
What is preschool?
Preschool is an adjective used to refer to the stage of the educational process that precedes primary school.
This means that before starting primary education, children go through a period known as preschool.
The characteristics of preschool education depend on each educational system. This is usually a non-
compulsory stage: the parents of the children can therefore decide whether to send their children to these
educational centres or not. In some countries, however, preschool is part of education.
How children perceive mathematics according to their age
Children begin to learn mathematics the moment they begin to explore the world. Every skill, from identifying
shapes and patterns to counting, builds on what they already know.
There are certain developmental milestones that most children reach at around the same age. However, keep in
mind that children develop their math skills at different rates. So don't worry if they haven't acquired all the skills
listed for their age.
Here's how math skills typically develop as children grow.
Babies (0-12 months)
They begin to predict the sequence of events (such as the sound of running water means bath time).
They begin to understand the basics of cause and effect (shaking a rattle makes a noise).
They begin to make simple classifications (some toys make noise and others don't).
They begin to understand relative size (baby is small, parents are big).
They begin to understand words that describe quantities (more, bigger, enough).
Children (1-2 years)
They understand that numbers mean “how many” (they use their fingers to show how old they are).
They begin to recite the numbers, but may omit some.
They understand words that compare or measure things (below, behind, faster).
Match basic geometric shapes (triangle with triangle, circle with circle).
They explore measurements by filling and emptying containers.
They begin to see patterns in daily routines and in things like floor tiles.
Preschoolers (3-4 years)
They recognize shapes in the real world.
They begin to sort things by color, shape, size, or function.
They compare and contrast using classifications such as height, size, or gender.
They count up to 20, and accurately point out and count objects in a group.
They understand that numbers represent the name of the number (5 corresponds to five).
They use spatial awareness to put together puzzles.
They begin to predict cause and effect (such as what will happen if they drop a toy into a bathtub full of
water).
Kindergarten children (5 years old)
They add by counting on the fingers of one hand 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and start with 6 on the other hand.
They identify which is the largest between two numbers and can recognize numbers up to 20.
They copy or draw symmetrical shapes.
They begin to use very simple maps to find the “hidden treasure”.
They begin to understand basic time concepts, such as tomorrow or days of the week.
They follow multi-step instructions that use words like first and next.
They understand the meaning of words like improbable or possible.
How children learn math skills
Children, as infants, begin to develop their math skills by exploring their environment, and this continues into
their preschool years. By the time they are learning formal math concepts in first grade, the foundation for
success is already in place.
What is early mathematics?
Early mathematics refers to the mathematical concepts and skills that a child develops informally during the
early years. These are also called pre-mathematics or early arithmetic skills. It is essential to develop these first,
before trying to introduce more advanced concepts.
When you want to introduce your child to math, you may immediately think of numbers and try to teach your
little one how to count, recognize numbers, and add or subtract, but these are actually some of the more
advanced early math skills that you shouldn't be in a rush to teach. It's important to first understand how
children learn math concepts.
How children learn math skills
The three stages of learning any mathematical concept are concrete, pictorial and abstract.
The concrete stage
In the concrete stage, https://eresmama.com/por-que-puede-ser-problema-perfeccionismo-exceso-ninos-
como-ayudarlos/children need to physically experience a concept. They need to develop an understanding of an
item by holding a block, for example. By playing with concrete objects, children form the concept that there can
be one object, several, fewer, more, etc.
Many mathematical processes take place as a child builds a tower of blocks with a friend. Concepts such as
more, less, one more, not enough, how many, much, less, take away and add are learned. Children compare
objects and learn that a value can be assigned to those objects.
The pictorial scene
In the pictorial stage, which follows the concrete stage, children can see a picture of objects and understand
that the picture represents real objects. For example, a child might look at a drawing and understand that the 4
leaves represent 4 real leaves.
Later, you might see a die with 4 dots and assign the value 4, and know that the dots could hypothetically
represent any object. So, you could add the 4 dots on one die to the 3 dots on the other and say there are 7
dots total.
The abstract stage
This is the final stage of understanding a mathematical concept. It means that a child can look at a sum, for
example, 4 + 3, written with number symbols, and add them without concrete objects or pictures. The child has
matured enough to understand that the symbols 4 and 3 represent a series of objects that must be added.
What stage are preschool-aged children in?
Preschool-aged children are mainly in the concrete stage. In fact, up to third grade, the teacher will introduce a
new concept in a concrete way before moving on to books or worksheets with examples to solve.
When children understand a concept in a concrete way, it is much easier to solve abstract problems. This means
that in the preschool years, trying to push a little one to count pictures of objects or understand the value of
number symbols is premature and will cause frustration.
Typically, children between 3 and 4 years old are able to recognize shapes and sort them by color, size, or
function. Similarly, preschoolers begin to understand that numbers represent the number name, that is, that “4”
corresponds to “four.”
You may want to expose your child to numbers (for example, playing with wooden numbers) or rhymes that
teach counting, but don't expect your child to understand the value of these numbers yet.
How to teach math skills to preschoolers?
The best way to teach math skills to preschoolers is through their primary medium of learning, play. Play is the
way preschoolers should learn absolutely everything.
This means that during these early years, children do not need formal lessons, activity sheets and workbooks or
anything that resembles “real work.”
It may seem confusing, as there are many formal programs and workbooks available to parents of preschoolers.
This makes parents feel like they should do more and prepare their children for school with more formal
activities.
The preschool stage is a time for informal learning. When your child has adequate informal learning through
play, formal learning naturally becomes easier when he or she is ready for it.
Learning math skills through play
When a child has inadequate learning through play and too many forced formal skills, he or she suffers later in
school when gaps begin to show and it becomes apparent that fundamental skills are missing.
Adapt the game to the infant and his abilities, as well as to his playful interests. In this sense, a focus is placed
on recreational activities that promote learning and introduce students to abstract knowledge.
On the other hand, it must be taken into account that there are certain pillars of development that most
children reach at different stages of their growth. In this sense, the speed or slowness in learning mathematical
skills should not be a cause for alarm for parents or teachers. Everything happens at the right time.
It is important to be able to help in the learning of all concepts, always starting with informal learning based on
games and recreational activities.
Sources
https://www.understood.org/es-mx/articles/math-skills-what-to-expect-at-different-ages
https://eresmama.com/como-aprenden-ninos-habilites-matematicas/
https://www.onaliat.mx/blog/index.php/que-son-las-matematicas#:~:text=La%20matem%C3%A1tica%20es%20la%20ciencia,el%20tiempo%20y
%20el %20space.
https://definicion.de/preescolar/
Expected learning outcomes for preschool mathematics
