Fun with Maths: Building a Strong Foundation through Play

By Reetta Hälvä, G3-5 homeroom teacher, Craft & Maths specialist

Have you ever noticed your child mimicking your words or behaviour, or repeating an action over and over, finding joy each time? This is how they learn most effectively—through imitation, repetition and having fun. The same approach can be applied to laying the groundwork for mathematical skills at an early age in school, by leading through example and engaging in play.

When we think of mathematics, we often picture arithmetic equations and numbers. However, these symbols on paper represent just a small part of the skills needed to truly understand maths. A number, like "five," doesn't mean much to a child if it's merely recited in a poem or presented as an abstract symbol. What’s crucial is for children to learn to quickly recognise quantities and understand them in various contexts. And the key to developing this skill is repetition.

Repetition as a term in teaching is often misunderstood. Typically, when we need to memorise something, we read it over and over, write it down, or repeat it in our heads. This method can lead to rote memorisation without comprehension. If asked to rephrase or apply what we’ve learned, we might struggle. That is making the memorised information almost useless. This example is far from the result we desire and where the element of play becomes essential. Repetition doesn’t mean doing the exact same thing over and over but rather reinforcing the same concept using different tools and in varied environments.

Playing with mathematical concepts can be a fun adventure and a natural part of everyday life. With younger learners we can embark on number hunts, finding sets of five in our fingers, toys, or while climbing stairs. We can even share a laugh when someone ends up with only five shoes instead of pairs. Poor soul who ends up with just one shoe! For older students, games, problem solving or creating stories can show the fun part of maths.

Maths is not confined to numbers on a page; it is embedded in daily life. By engaging with it in meaningful ways every day, we help children build a solid foundation for learning and exploring even further.