Messy maths: a playful, outdoor approach for early years

Juliet Robertson believes that every child and every adult is mathematically able.

By sharing ideas and enjoying great mathematical conversations we can all deepen our understanding of the value of maths.

Being outside makes maths real. In the classroom, maths can seem disconnected from everyday experience.

Real maths is really messy. Aside from mud pies and puddles, the cognitive processes involved mean it is not a smooth linear pathway of learning but rather an interconnected network.

Lots of playing and activity along the way is a must.

Children need time to make sense of the abstract ideas of maths through experiential processes along with lots of opportunities to ponder, enjoy and discuss the concepts encountered.