Learning Maths Naturally

Sarah Beale

Observing children learn in their own way and in their own time, allows us not only the joy but also the luxury of partnering with them.

It sure feels like a luxury to me anyway as we are gifted the almost complete absence of stress that they are not learning enough; fear of the future because watching them learn brings surety that this will continue; and the best thing - being invited into the life of our children is a gift in itself.

When children attend school it makes sense that things are learnt in a particular order. Each skill builds on a previous learning and so on.

Beyond school though, children are free to learn in a way that suits them, without need for any arbitrary or forced order. The learning is often not linear but more circular, rhythmic, intuituve.

Much happens via conversation and, blessed with almost limitless time, will naturally follow a child's interest in that moment: Why is my birthday on the shortest day of the year when we are in England but the longest day of the year in Australia? Why, when I walk forward, do I use my left leg first but you use your right leg? Why are strawberries more expensive in winter? Look at my footprints in the snow! Let's see how far I can make my steps stretch out. Not one of these conversations more important than the other.

None of the musings more of less important than, say, maths or learning numbers. But all led by an interest in that moment and answered within the context of connection and love.

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"This is a good way to learn numbers". Peggy, age 6