Infants and Toddlers Exploring Mathematics

A good deal of research is beginning to support the idea of emergent mathematics and that, much as with reading, children begin to learn mathematics from the day they are born. Infants and toddlers begin to notice relationships as they interact with their parents or primary caregivers through songs, rocking, and other verbal and nonverbal communication. Later, they build on this foundation by beginning to classify, seriate (put objects in order based on number and size), compare, and order objects. This article offers some examples of what infants and toddlers might do, how these behaviors are related to mathematics, and what teachers can do to encourage the natural mathematical interests of this age group. (Contains 2 resources and 1 online resource.)