Maths coloured rods

[Fishboneschokus]

Scandivanian, Steiner, up to ten, different cours.tip of my tongue...

Cuisenaire.

Eddie, I knew that the first answer would be one word.
:)

I am inclined to buy for dn (1 and 2)

Any thoughts

Fishbones cuiesenaire rods are brilliant but I find teachers in the UK are not familiar with them and I bought mine from France and the textbooks accompanying the sets - guide to maths, addition, multiplication, division, squares etc. from a shop in Belgium. They are totally awesome.

I used them in primary school and loved them. I would adore a set. I have seen them in Scottish schools recently.

Dn are 18 m and 2 and half.
Agree re training.
Huge thanks to all
(Flowers)

Find out what school uses first. Ours uses numicon so we bought that instead. I'm a convert.

Actually I think 1 and 2 are way too young for them. Get them some galt buttons or cotton reels instead, or just bits of pasta. They need to move objects in piles a good bit before they start abstracting to lengths of rods.

Just my opinion, and I'm not a teacher.

Numicon is fantastic.

Thank you all.
Off for a Google. It' for Christmas so I have time.
Will report back.
:)

Yeah, prob a bit young. 3 or 4 min I'd say, and make sure youngest is past the putting things in mouths stage, they're quite little bits. It's one of those toys that can end up strewn all over the house if not closely guarded.
We got some when DS was in reception, he had great fun making patterns and building things out of them. Learned some things about symmetry and number bonds and evens and odds. And they're the same colours as when I was at school! Very satisfying.

For that age, a good old fashioned abacus is a good mathematical toy; or an idea I nicked from the children's centre, plastic measuring cups and cylinders. Nearly every child at toddler group spent 10 mins filling up a cylinder with a cup, emptying it out and filling again. Proved equally popular as a bath toy. And still useful for DS learning about measuring in year 1!

I still have my set.
They were given to me when I was 3

I used them right through primary.
I used them to teach younger siblings
I used them to teach my kids
the bag is worn out : they are stashed ready for my grandchildren

wonderful things

And quite a lot can be learned from Duplo bricks in different sizes; probably more suited to that age group.

There are also 'beads on a string' called 'sum-things' that we used in school:

www.tts-group.co.uk/shops/tts/Products/PD1723088/Sum-things-Rainbow/

(They may be available from less expensive suppliers possibly.)

I found them useful at certain stages of teaching in school - but 1 and 2 ??? Not something I'd consider. LOADS of better things for them at that age.

I like Dienes Apparatus. Can be used with HTU house too

They are getting polydron this Christmas.

Really good ideas here. I'll hold back on rods until there is no choking hazard.

A long shot, don't suppose anyone knows the name of the Chinese puzzle from the Chinese school program?

Love being an aunt!

:)

For educational toys, I'd say go for it, even it is too early, as long as it's safe to use.
My ds was hyperlexic, so he showed interest in anything to do with numbers or letters.
We gave him anything that he showed interest, or recommended by someone, etc.
Best "toys" were magnetic letters, fraction toys, and fact posters.
He was making words like "TESCO"and "NO Entry" with letters(things he saw), learned all his times table(from looking at posters everyday) without realizing, and understand what fractions are, before starting school!
We didn't use it to teach him something, just let him play with it, and helped him only when he wanted to.

Numicon is better bigger peices bright colours can be stacked slot together ... easy to see £30,.. can get a set with the rods ... look at those first.

And time telling clock!
He was able to tell time to minutes before 3.
I think you should use anything that help children learn something without studying, so they can spend time playing!

You sound like the maths equivalent of a godparent op!
Irvine, what are fraction toys? That sounds like something my kids would like.

Fraction toy was second hand from his cousin.
Similar to fraction towers (cubes?), but made into pie shaped pieces(1/2,1/5,1/8,1/12 etc.) to make it into one whole circle.
It was made by Kumon Educational toys, but I don't know if they still make it. (I'm not fun of Kumon, but their toys are great.)

If you google Chinese Ball Puzzle it comes up. It is quite expensive though.