Raising Problem Solvers :: The Importance of Early Math

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Importance of Early Math Games for Young MindsWhile most parenting topics generate a myriad of conflicting opinions, there has always been one thing parents can agree on — reading to your child early and often will help him or her later in life.

As a self-diagnosed right-brained person, I have always felt comfortable “raising readers”. I used to work in children’s publishing, for goodness’ sake. Reading, literacy, and books are my sweet spot.

But recently, an article about the importance of teaching children math at an early age caught my eye. The article featured Kent Haines and Games for Young Minds, the weekly newsletter he created with the goal to help both parents and children “learn to love math through the power of play”. 

After reading the article, I talked with Haines to ask him more about Games for Young Minds and his thoughts on the importance of incorporating early math, both as a parent and a math teacher.

Haines, a Birmingham resident, parent of three, and a middle school math teacher, came up with the concept for his newsletter, Games for Young Minds, after he began researching ways to incorporate early math in his own home. Through his research, Haines found that more so than reading, early performance in math is a better predictor of a child’s later academic success across the board.

Great, but how do parents encourage early math learning at home? you may ask. That’s the same question Haines had. The answer — games.

Importance of Early Math Games for Young MindsGames are Key to Teaching Children Math

We all know the early reading rule of thumb about reading to your child for 20 minutes a day, right? Haines’s rule of thumb when it comes to early math — play games and ask questions.

Haines sees games as the key to early math for two reasons. First, math at its core is analyzing structure. A game creates structure because it is based on a set of rules and limitations. This makes a game, by its very nature, mathematical. Second, games lead to a natural conversation about math that doesn’t feel academic.

As Haines explains, he’s not trying to get parents to be mini-math teachers. Instead, he’s trying to encourage and equip parents to incorporate mini-math discussions into what they are already doing with their children — playing.

Encouraging and Equipping Parents to Play with Math in Mind

Each week the Games for Young Minds newsletter includes:

  • a game or activity that you can play with your child,
  • an explanation of the mathematical principles that underpin the game, and
  • simple sample questions to jump start a conversation and get your child thinking about these principles.

Importance of Early Math Games for Young MindsWhile the ages for the games/activities vary from week to week, Haines likes to focus on games for the pre-k to 2nd grade level. After reviewing a new game and activity each week for over a year for his newsletter, Haines understands how expensive games can get. That’s why many of the activities Haines suggests are free to create at home. However, regardless of the activity, Haines makes it easy enough even for a right-brainer like me to engage with their children about math.

As a math teacher, Haines encourages parents to resist the urge to show a child how it’s done. It is more important to help them develop their own thoughts.

The key, according to Haines, is to ask, “What are you thinking?” and “How do you know?” Those questions are at the heart of talking and thinking about mathematical concepts.

Game On

What I really love about Games for Young Minds is that it is not something parents have to add to an already full list of “things to do”. Instead, Games for Young Minds is about being intentional with what many parents probably already do. Does your family have a game night? Just swap in one of these games. Or maybe one of the games/activities is already a family favorite. If so, the conversation starters will help you be intentional about calling out the mathematical concepts your child is already employing while playing. Two birds, one stone.

As a newbie to Games for Young Minds, I really liked his 2018 Holiday Gift Guide post where Haines highlights two games/activities for each age level. It is a wonderful place to start. Haines also archives the newsletters on his site if you want to catch up.

As for the Haines family favorites, Haines’s favorite is Blokus. Haines’s six-year-old son loves Monopoly and Kingdomino. Some of his four-year-old daughter’s favorites include Trouble, Sorry, and Uncle Wiggily.

Click here to sign up to receive the weekly Games for Young Minds newsletter.

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Jacklyn M
Jacklyn grew up in Pittsburgh, PA before moving to Atlanta, GA after her freshman year in high school. Jacklyn attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN where she majored in journalism and met her husband Ben. After college Jacklyn worked as a children's book publicist and worked on books by authors like Jack Hanna, Tim McGraw, George Foreman, Max Lucado, and Margaret Wise Brown. After three years as a publicist, Jacklyn decided to attend law school. Jacklyn earned her JD from the University of Cincinnati and practiced Labor and Employment law at a firm in Cincinnati, OH. While at the firm, Ben attended medical school and they had their two boys - Jackson Wilder (2 1/2) and Leo (8 months). After medical school Ben accepted a residency position at UAB so the McGlothlins headed to Birmingham. The McGlothlins now live in Bluff Park and can’t imagine a better place to raise their boys. While studying to take the Alabama Bar, Jacklyn is home with the boys in her new role as a “pediatric engineer” as her mom calls it. The jury is still out on who her toughest clients are - the two boys or some of her former firm clients.