Maths in the Early Years

Course overview

Transform everyday moments into powerful mathematical discoveries. Mathematics in early childhood is far more than rote counting and static worksheets. It thrives when children investigate the world around them through curiosity, play, and meaningful daily routines. This 2-hour interactive workshop equips early childhood educators with practical, low-cost strategies to create a maths-rich learning environment. Rather than relying on expensive commercial kits, you will learn to harness locally available resources to cultivate spatial awareness, pattern recognition, measurement, and problem-solving. Key Learning Outcomes By the end of this 120-minute session, participants will be able to: Develop a "Maths Lens": Identify and exploit spontaneous mathematical moments during daily routines, outdoor play, and shared snack times. Bridge Pedagogy and Curriculum: Connect official early childhood learning outcomes with child-centred, play-based strategies that avoid early academic stress. Utilise Local & Natural Resources: Curate low-cost learning spaces using accessible loose parts (e.g. coconut shells, seeds, repurposed packaging, sea shells, and sticks) for open-ended sorting, measuring, and counting. Master Open-Ended Questioning: Apply simple, open-ended prompts to encourage children's mathematical reasoning and trial-and-error without inducing anxiety.