Mass Maths

One of the many luxuries of home based childcare is the autonomy in the practice and time we can give to individual children. Maths is lovely to give one-to-one support and attention to and I enjoy thinking up ways to make it fun. Subitising, or instantly recognising numbers (as opposed to counting), is an important building black in early maths.

This game, of matching the dice dots to the number of dots on the dolls, is an amalgamation of offerings. My mum found the wooden figures and containers, my stepdaughter painted them, my brother-in-law made the dice and the tray they are in is the lid of a Jamaican trinket box, from my auntie, connecting to my Jamaican heritage.

Montessori loved to place resources in trays for children to carefully bring out and place back. I love the far-reaching story in this tiny item and find that tidy and cherished resources engender the same care from the children.