Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

Early childhood education can help to prepare children for learning maths in school.

Many students find maths difficult as they move up in school. I believe the problem is not due to the subject itself but because they did not get a strong foundation in maths during their preschool education.

Quality early childhood education can help children to develop an interest in problem solving, logical thinking and curiosity. 

These skills are also very useful when they begin learning numbers, counting, patterns and shapes in the later stages of their education.

In preschool, children do not learn maths from textbooks. Instead, they play, sing, listen to stories and explore with hands-on materials. For example, they might group items by colour, compare two different lengths or build something using blocks.

These activities already introduce basic ideas of classification, measurement and space. These early experiences give them confidence in thinking mathematically.

I believe early childhood education can help children enjoy maths. If they experience maths in a fun and relaxed way from young, they are less likely to be afraid of it later.

Many students feel nervous or anxious when they study maths at higher levels.

This anxiety usually begins from a lack of early exposure or bad experiences in their early education. 

When children explore maths through games and discovery, they learn that it is not something to fear but something they can understand and enjoy.

Even adults harbour maths anxiety, which can manifest as a range of symptoms, including panic, stress, difficulty concentrating, and even avoidance of math-related situations.

In fact, I have met many adults who say “I’m just not a maths person” or avoid careers that involve numbers.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If we give children a positive introduction to maths in their early years, we can change the way they see the subject for life.

There is a difference in language ability between children from rich and poor families. The same difference also happens in maths. 

Some children do not have opportunities at home to play with puzzles or count things, and so they begin school already behind. This is why giving every child access to quality early education is very important.

Mathematical knowledge is not only for passing exams. In the future world, especially with the pervasiveness of technology and data, mathematical thinking will be even more important.

Children who are confident with maths from young may choose careers in science, technology or engineering later. They will also be better prepared to handle finances, make informed decisions and contribute to an economy that relies more and more on data and digital tools.

For all these reasons, I believe that investing in quality early childhood education is a very smart decision. It helps children grow in many ways, including in their thinking and problem-solving skills.

As an educator, I truly hope the next education blueprint (2026-2036) will include strong support for maths development in the early years to give all children a fair and strong beginning, and to help build a future generation that is confident, capable and unafraid of the subject and all that it entails.

Syed Azman Syed Ismail

Postgraduate student Faculty of Education Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my