What a 1 year old can Teach You About Maths
Practice makes perfect
Just last week, I was watching my 15 month old son trying to dress himself (well actually he had managed to place his T shirt on his head and was trying to pull down on it!) I know I have many, many months ahead of me of dressing my son but I also know that given a T-shirt, he’ll practice and practice until he’s mastered that skill.
photo credit: Vermin Inc
Not just Toddlers
Think of something you are good at or fast at now, driving, cooking, grocery shopping, tying your laces. There was once a time when you couldn’t do these things or couldn’t do these things nearly as well or as fast as you do them now.
What happened in between?
You practiced.
The practicing wasn’t always pleasant (have you tried cooking a roast dinner for guests while the baby is crying and the toddler is upending lego boxes in the kitchen?)
But you did it.
It had to be done and by doing it repeatedly; practicing that skill hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly you got better at it. The same is true for maths.
Maths Practice
Kids don’t like maths practice, there’s way too much other stuff which they want to practice (computer games, learning about life, the universe and everything through computer games, tv, Internet and hanging with friends) but the 2, 5, 10 minutes of regular maths practice will make their lives easier in the future.
(And may even help them to scale up recipe ingredients when they’re older and are preparing that roast for their guest while their children upend lego boxes in the kitchen!)
What results have you seen through regular maths practice?
5 Responses to “What a 1 year old can Teach You About Maths”
Tweets that mention What a 1 year old can Teach You About Math - Practice makes Perfect | Maths Insider -- Topsy.com on June 9, 2010
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Best Twit Ad, Caroline Mukisa. Caroline Mukisa said: New on Maths Insider: What a 1year old Can Teach You About Maths. http://ow.ly/1W0s5 #math #parenting [...]
The Perfect Maths Textbook! | Maths Insider on June 15, 2010
[...] What a 1 year old can Teach You About Maths [...]
Maths Homework Help | Maths Insider on August 21, 2010
[...] Make the time (yes I know there’s no time but try to find some) to sit down with your child and work through the work together. Try to get them to explain to you what they do understand before tackling the difficult questions. Finally, make time for your child to do some regular maths practice. [...]
8 Essential Tips for Maths Success in Only 11 minutes a day | Maths Insider on October 12, 2010
[...] When I first started 5bx I thought that it was too easy, but starting with the easy workout has helped my body prepare for the harder workouts. In the same way giving your child work that is relatively easy to start with will increase their confidence and help them get used to doing that little bit of extra work each day. [...]
8 Things to Hate About Kumon - A Review | Maths Insider on October 13, 2010
[...] the same worksheet up to 6 times. It is true that repeating helps kids get faster at their maths, practice does make perfect. Geoff Colvin in his book Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from [...]