To help children develop a love for math, there's a crucial skill even more important than simply being able to calculate.
That skill is "number sense."
Number sense refers to the ability to intuitively grasp numbers, such as:
- Having a general understanding of the difference between 5 and 10 items.
- Realizing, "I just need one more to make 10!"
- Being able to visualize the size and quantity of numbers.
In fact, it's said that this number sense is difficult to acquire through drills and worksheets alone, and instead develops through play.
This time, we'll introduce age-appropriate methods for fostering number sense while having fun with building blocks.
Why is number sense important?
When children enter elementary school, they learn various math concepts, including:
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Time
- Length
- Area
- Fractions
Number sense forms the foundation for all of these.
For example, children who can visualize that "7 can be broken down into 5 and 2" or "8 is 2 less than 10" will find it easier to understand calculations.
Conversely, if numbers are only perceived as symbols, children might end up in a situation where they "can calculate somehow, but don't understand what it means."
With building blocks, children can physically touch and visually confirm numbers, naturally developing their number sense.
[Ages 0-1] First, feel the "quantity"
At this stage, there's no need to teach numbers.
The important thing is to experience changes in quantity, such as:
"There are many"
"There are few"
"It increased"
"It's gone"
Arrange building blocks
Parent: "Look, there are so many!"
Parent: "There are fewer here."
Play while adding these kinds of comments.
Take them out of a box and put them back in
Children love to take things out and put them back in.
Naturally, they develop a sense of:
"Increasing"
"Decreasing"
This sense develops naturally.
[Ages 2-3] Let's count and play
This is the stage when children start to recite numbers.
It's okay if they can't count accurately yet.
Let's have fun and get familiar with numbers.
"Bring me 3"
"Can you bring me 3 building blocks?"
"Thank you!"
Turning it into a request game makes it fun.
Make the same number
The parent lines up 4 blocks.
The child lines up 4 blocks on the opposite side.
Confirm, "They're the same number!"
[Ages 4-5] Try making 5 or 10
This is a period when number sense grows significantly.
Focusing on "5" and "10" in particular will lead to elementary school calculations.
Line up 5 building blocks.
Parent: "There are 2."
Parent: "How many more do we need to make 5?"
Child: "3!"
This is a thinking game.
Line up 10 building blocks.
"There are 7."
"How many more do we need?"
Think while playing.
This connects to "groups of 10" learned in elementary school.
[Ages 5-6] Try simple addition and subtraction!
Using building blocks helps concretely understand calculations.
Addition
Place 3 building blocks.
Add 2 more.
"How many are there in total?"
Count them to find the answer.
Subtraction
There are 5 building blocks.
Take away 2.
"How many are left?"
Since it can be confirmed visually, the idea of "decreasing" becomes easier to grasp.
Building block play is a warm-up for math
Building block play fosters many foundational math skills, such as:
✔ Counting numbers
✔ Understanding the magnitude of numbers
✔ Adding and subtracting
✔ Understanding groups
Above all, the appeal of building blocks is the experience of not "studying," but rather "learning naturally through play."
Summary
Number sense is not something to be taught all at once; it's a skill that gradually develops through daily play.
During the ages of 0-6, rather than focusing on "getting the right answer," it's important to value feelings like:
"Math is fun!"
"I did it!"
Tsumiki-z building blocks are perfect for fostering number sense through play, as they can be freely arranged, collected, and combined.
Enjoy playing together as a family and nurture the seeds of future math lovers.