How can early years practitioners help young children to become not only numerate but aspiring mathematicians who love numbers, shapes and mathematical comparisons?


The introduction of the Foundation Stage has led to practitioners seeking ways to teach maths which are more in line with the creative and playful ways young children learn other subjects.


Linda Pound draws on current thinking about children's mathematical development to show how you can encourage and enhance the numeracy skills of any child in the early years by linking maths to every-day life situations and making it a playful and enjoyable cross-curricular activity.


This highly practical and engaging text includes chapters on:








why maths is often seen as 'hard' and what practitioners can do to help young children be more successful







exploring shapes, space, measures and patterns







how to make maths more fun and playful, using games, humour, stories and rhymes







using music and dance to enhance mathematical understanding







encouraging children to see the connection between maths and everyday experiences through, for example sorting, matching and guessing