Empowering Parents to Enhance Early Math Skills in Children

Engaging Parents in Early Math Education

Taylorsville, Utah, doesn’t look like a hub for educational reform, but that's precisely where creative initiatives to boost preschool math skills are unfolding. In a classroom near Salt Lake City, Clarence Ames, who heads research at the Utah STEM Action Center, stands before an audience of parents and their young children. His goal? To challenge the pervasive mindset that math isn't for everyone. “Who here has ever thought, ‘I’m not a math person’?” Ames asks the group, prompting hands to shoot up. It’s a stark reminder of the mental barriers many parents carry, obstacles that can hinder their children’s math abilities from an early age. These moments were laced with humor, as parents shared their own childhood math traumas, revealing a collective narrative of fear surrounding math. Ames is spearheading MILO & Friends, a project aimed at alleviating this intimidation while underscoring the valuable role parents can play in fostering early math skills. He emphasizes that engaging in math-related activities before a child's formal education begins lays a critical foundation. “Parents are a child’s first teacher,” he asserts, framing their involvement as “super important.”

The Importance of Early Math Engagement

This outreach effort isn't just about lighthearted evenings; it's part of a broader strategy to combat a troubling trend in math performance across the country. The National Assessment of Educational Progress has reported that disparities in student math scores are at their widest in 12th grade since 2005, with alarming decreases in average scores among younger grades as well. In contrast to the focus on early literacy, early math is often overlooked, despite research underscoring its significance in narrowing the achievement gap between affluent students and those from low-income households. Experts like Deborah Stipek from Stanford University argue that to effectively address these discrepancies, intervention must occur before children even set foot in kindergarten. Ames’ initiative not only aims to empower parents but also responds to the urgent need to equip children with essential math skills that predict long-term academic success. “Mastering foundational skills like counting correlates with better performance in college and later in life,” he points out.

Play-Based Learning Through Games

At the heart of MILO & Friends is a cooperative game called Happy Bunny, selected for its simplicity and mathematical elements. In this game, families gather to engage in basic math principles while having fun. Participants roll a die, maneuvering their bunny along a color-coded path, all while practicing counting and categorization without even realizing it. As one mother, Katie Bearnson, plays with her two sons, she observes how each roll of the die teaches her children essential skills. The game promotes abstract thinking and sequential reasoning, crucial components of early math education. After participating, Bearnson admits, “We’ve focused more on reading because it feels easier. But I’ll definitely incorporate more math activities going forward.” As families take home copies of Happy Bunny and laminated cards filled with math conversation starters, the hope is that these resources foster a sustained interest in math at home, making it a natural part of daily interactions.

Changing Attitudes Toward Math

The change in perception about parental roles in early math education has been notable, especially among populations that may feel disenfranchised from the math conversation. A recent study highlighted a significant uptick in confidence among Spanish-speaking families in their ability to assist their children with math post-participation in MILO events. This approach highlights a critical, yet rarely addressed, component of education: the emotional and psychological barriers that often deter parents from engaging in math-related activities with their kids. Ames is passionate about making math accessible to all families, envisioning a community where math skills contribute to critical thinking and civic engagement. “If we want to cultivate informed citizens, we have to start early,” he states, signaling a broader societal benefit that extends beyond mere numbers. This localized initiative, while small, could serve as a blueprint for similar programs nationwide, reminding us all that a transformation in math education begins at home and is rooted in the partnerships between schools, parents, and children.