Algebra

[learnandsay]

One of my friends is good at maths and wants to teach his seven year old daughter algebra for his own personal amusement, I believe. And he has already started. From what I understand she can work out the answers so far.

Who here thinks that he should carry on behaving like this and who thinks he should stop? He knows that she can't use it in school and that she'll no doubt forget it. Presumably it's neither harming nor helping her. He just finds it fun.

[alanyoung]

I think if we start early enough we can teach children all sorts of weird and wonderful things. I was at the BETT exhibition last week and bought some software that demonstrates principles in optics and electricity. I bought it for my five year old grandson, but it was originally designed for A level. By carefully choosing the bits I show him and adding a little explanation of my own, he is beginning to understand how it all fits.

When he was just four my son (his uncle) and I were talking to him and he suddenly opened his eyes wide, closed them, turned his head to the side and opened them again. When we asked him what he was doing, he said he was letting the light into his eyes, he closed them to catch the light and he then let it out in a different direction. It's surprising how close this is to reality!

Am I bragging? Well, he is a chip off the old block.

[alanyoung]

Mummytime, I don't know if you ever watch the Christmas Lectures on BBC television from the Royal Institution, but they are great. Worth recording and watching with your children when you can explain what's happening. Don't worry if you don't understand everything yourself.

This year they were on chemistry. I am sure your child would have loved them.