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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

How unusual is this maths ability in a 3 year old

81 replies

WhyNotMe40 · 16/12/2019 18:12

And what should I do about it (if anything)?
So I knew he could count well - not just reciting numbers but accurately count objects up to about 40 - after which he gets bored.
But we've recently discovered her can do simple sums in his head. He could work out simple addition of single digit numbers with barely a seconds hesitation. He has also replicated this at the childminder's so it's not us subconsciously prompting somehow.
The childminder has also discovered he can say how many tens in twenty, thirty, forty etc.
I don't have much experience with small children but it seems unusual to me. I certainly haven't done any maths work with him or even mathematical games - just the usual Lego, play dough, etc
If I encourage this will it upset his reception teachers in September? Or should I find some maths games? He has always loved numbers and shapes and patterns, but I just thought he could count and that was it!
Any advice?

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Lordfrontpaw · 16/12/2019 18:17

DS was like that - numbers were always his ‘thing’ and I can’t say it’s a good thing though!

Because he could ‘do sums’ so easily and quickly in his head, the school had a terrible time getting him to actually write his work down.

He is doing maths GCSE now and has been able to do A-level maths since he was 12 or 13. He was assessed and is ‘gifted’ at maths - but we still have to remind him to write his work out.

Original poster

WhyNotMe40 · 16/12/2019 18:20

Thanks for the reply. Did you do anything to support your son or just let him get on with it? My DS does love numbers so would probably enjoy playing around with them, but I don't want to do things the wrong way and have him switch off at school?

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MerryMarigold · 16/12/2019 18:20

Personally I wouldn't push it, just because he could get bored in school. It's probably better to focus on things he may be weaker at like fine motor skills (platform great for that, colouring etc). At this young age you don't want him to even think of himself as a maths whizz and leave other things out. Best to be rounded. You could try music as well, as it's quite mathematical too.

Haworthia · 16/12/2019 18:20

You’ll get loads of people saying “sounds totally average, OP”

But to me that sounds pretty exceptional.

MerryMarigold · 16/12/2019 18:21

Platform=playdough

Original poster

WhyNotMe40 · 16/12/2019 18:22

He has absolutely awful fine motor skills and refuses to even pick up a paintbrush or crayon at home, although he does for the childminder at home it's enough of a struggle getting him to use a knife and fork, and he's still not potty trained - so there's loads for is to work on at home 🤣

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AbbyHammond · 16/12/2019 18:23

Very unusual, most 3yos understand numbers to 5 or 10.
Don't think I would particularly push it though, just support his interest in every day life.

Haworthia · 16/12/2019 18:24

Just wanted to add, I hate this attitude that you shouldn’t encourage a child who seems gifted because he’ll be bored at school, or the teachers won’t know what to do with him. It just seems like such a waste of talent. I’m not saying hothouse him, but if he enjoys it then it seems a shame to actively slow down or dampen his progress.

MerryMarigold · 16/12/2019 18:24

Join the dots could be good for that. You could try incorporating numbers into helping other areas, but yes, I would veer away from making him feel 'successful' in maths and not in other areas as these things can stick and he's so young.

Original poster

WhyNotMe40 · 16/12/2019 18:25

Music wise - well we have a drum with holes in, maracas that were emptied, and he just gets cross with the toy keyboard when it won't just play Shotgun for him. He quite likes his ukulele though but gets offended if I tune it. So it offends me!
We do loads of stuff outside as he is a complete whirlwind handful and if left inside he just breaks stuff, or tries to take stuff apart. Which is a pain when it's the radiator

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MerryMarigold · 16/12/2019 18:26

Jigsaws also mathematical without being about numbers purely. Also good for fine motor skills.

TildaTurnip · 16/12/2019 18:26

Our eldest is similar. We think he picked it all up from Numberblocks on Cbeebies!

Lordfrontpaw · 16/12/2019 18:27

We didn’t do anything, honest!

I am spectacularly bad at maths so just let him get on with what interested him - so sport, music, cooking etc - all just normal ‘kid stuff’.

There’s no point in trying to ‘teach’ as you won’t know how the school or nursery will be teaching them, and it may be confusing if you do it one way and for them to do it another.

elizabethdraper · 16/12/2019 18:27

My now 6 year old was the exact same.

We just let him get on with it. He is in junior infants now and knows his 2,3,5,10 times tables
I don't think it is anything to get too excited about. His colouring is atrocious as is his writing.

He is flying at sign language and gaeilge though

Original poster

WhyNotMe40 · 16/12/2019 18:27

Ooh dot to dot is a great idea! Good for fine motor and has numbers - great thanks!

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GlamGiraffe · 16/12/2019 18:29

It's not wildly uncommon its more that you have happened upon it. I'm not particularly in favour f zoning in on and focusing on something a child us good at as I think they may either become obsessed or bored (I've seen both ends happen). If your child loves maths, I personally would let him do it for pleasure, play maths games and activities rather than start on a KS2 syllabus! You then get a child who loves maths for its role in the world but not just as a number counter.
My 17year old was assessed as a gifted child aged 4 as part of a standard school test, but I've never acted upon it he has grown into a really rounded young adult but without wild academic interests, what he does have instead us a great diverse mind. If I had pushed his gift in academia, he would certainly not be the person he is now.

Lordfrontpaw · 16/12/2019 18:31

When he is older - where’s wally will be your friend. He sounds like DS (a very ‘busy’ child!)

horseymum · 16/12/2019 18:31

Knowing how many tens in 20, 30 etc is pretty good and more impressive than the adding . One of mine ( genuinely can't remember which!) could do that, it came about when putting 10 grapes in several bowls for friends snacks, so the concrete thing came first. Lots of children don't grasp this concept at all so struggle with two digit numbers. Playing board games etc eg snakes and ladders will reinforce the number patterns. I think that anything that encourages problem solving and not just rote adding ( although some rote learning helps!) will be good. Often children can do the sum but can't work out what the question is as actually asking. Eg I have three cups out on the table, two more people arrive, how many cups will be on the table altogether if everyone is to have drink. Probably a rubbish example but you get what I mean.
Baking also uses loads of maths skills, my mum was a ta and said there wasn't much you couldn't support learning with that wasn't covered by baking or board games!

ineedaholidaynow · 16/12/2019 18:31

I would be working on his fine motor skills and potty training. You can still do maths things with him but don’t forget other things too.

As PP said dot to dot would be great if he recognises numbers too.

EnsignRoLaren · 16/12/2019 18:32

Ooh I don’t know - my DS is only just four and can do the same things, and knows his number bonds to ten (eg 6 and 4 makes ten), and knows lots of shapes and how many sizes they have. And he’s good at sums and estimating numbers of items in groups. When is your DS turning four? I don’t think my DS could do the same counting stuff when he had just turned three.

I remember that his older sibling didn’t show nearly as much interest in numbers. His pre-school have said he’s doing well but haven’t pronounced him gifted or anything 😉.

We are buying him some books about shapes for Christmas and I don’t think we could stop him learning this stuff - he picks it up everywhere! Your son sounds lovely - read up on growth mindset and keep him going!

83maddog83 · 16/12/2019 18:36

If he enjoys numbers and maths games then I would definitely support and encourage that. It sounds like he has a natural talent. I am a TA in a primary school and his teacher would certainly not be upset by this. They will set work for his ability to ensure he is challenged and continues to learn.

Original poster

WhyNotMe40 · 16/12/2019 18:39

So the consensus is that it's a bit ahead but not that unusual? And don't do anything to encourage it?
I do my best already to provide a wide variety of activities to promote fine motor skills and everything else, so I'll just carry on with that.
He'll be 4 next summer.
He already knows his 2D shapes up to hexagon, might teach him 3d shapes as well though

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MerryMarigold · 16/12/2019 18:40

Also mazes. You don't need to use a pen. Can use a finger to start with and then pen later. These are all maths skills without being so obvious.

nomorespaghetti · 16/12/2019 18:41

My 3 year old DD is similar, and i do think it's quite unusual. From a really early age i noticed she was quite good with numbers (i thought so anyway ) At her preschool they gave me a little booklet of maths/number type exercises they'd like them to work towards at different points in the year up to September, and she can do all of them already. I'm not really pushing it, but i might ask her teacher for advice in the new year in case there is something i should be doing. I always think the main thing is keeping everything fun. Good luck op

Original poster

WhyNotMe40 · 16/12/2019 18:41

83mad thanks sorry xposted. That's good to hear that I won't get in the reception teachers bad books!

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