I always find it fascinating the way children are naturally drawn to creating mathematical concepts during their play time. Self learning and non judgement encourages a child to be creative and teach themselves about what can and can’t be created.
The concept of most mathematical questions can be solved and explained physically – so super logical !!
The children were given a pile of magnextic, its a puzzle that you stick together using magnets. (This is aimed at older children as there is a chocking hazard)
They made bridges out of cocktail sticks and ladders seeing how far they could protrude them over a desk before the would collapse.
Sometimes when I see a child playing mathematically I try to explain the mathematical process of what they are doing. (then real maths lessons can become fun and understandable)
So next time you see your child playing and creating a mathematical structure, try to step in and explain what you see. Even take a photograph and relate it to buildings, or structures you see around you.
Unqualified self inspried maths I always find it fascinating the way children are naturally drawn to creating mathematical concepts during their play time.