Discovering Early Maths Through Play: How We Make Numbers Fun

For many grown-ups, the word “maths” might bring back memories of worksheets and times tables. But in early childhood, maths is something much more playful, natural, and even musical than that!

At House on the Dials, we weave maths into children’s everyday play, routines, and adventures—rather than treating it as a formal subject. The wonderful part? Most of the time, children don’t even realise they’re learning maths at all.

Here are some of the fun ways we bring numbers, patterns, and problem-solving to life.

Songs and Rhymes: Counting Made Fun

Chances are your child already loves favourites like Five Currant Buns or One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Once I Caught a Fish Alive. Beyond the giggles, these tunes are fantastic for building number confidence.

Through rhymes and songs, children learn to:

• Count up and down

• Recognise number order

• Explore the idea of adding or taking one away

• Develop rhythm, memory, and listening skills

We often use these songs during everyday moments—like tidying up or lining up—turning routine times into lively little maths lessons.

Everyday Counting Opportunities

Maths is everywhere in daily life, and we use those natural moments to help children build number sense. For example:

• Counting how many plates are needed at snack time

• Making sure toys or blocks are shared fairly

• Spotting matching pairs of socks or shoes

• Talking about “more” and “less” during play

These small, practical activities help children understand that numbers are useful tools for solving real problems.

Mark-Making and Early Maths Words

Before children learn to write numbers, they love to experiment with marks—using crayons, chalk, paint, or even their fingers in sand or shaving foam.

This stage of play allows them to:

• Notice shapes and repeating patterns

• Begin exploring how numbers look

• Play with measurement ideas like “long” and “short”

• Strengthen hand muscles ready for writing

Alongside this, we introduce maths vocabulary such as “big,” “small,” “tall,” “short,” “near,” “far,” “heavy,” and “light,” so children build both understanding and language.

Blocks, Puzzles & Sorting: Problem-Solving in Action

Open-ended play with blocks, puzzles, and shape sorters sparks skills that are at the heart of maths. These activities encourage:

• Spatial awareness

• Matching and sorting

• Problem-solving and reasoning

We guide their play by asking questions like:

• “Which tower is the tallest?”

• “Can you find the puzzle piece that’s the same shape?”

• “What comes next in this pattern?”

These gentle prompts encourage children to think like little mathematicians while still having fun.

Why Maths Through Play Works

In the early years, maths isn’t about memorising answers. It’s about growing curious minds, building confidence, and developing a sense of how numbers, shapes, and patterns fit into their world.

By exploring maths through play, children are more likely to:

• Feel relaxed and positive about numbers

• See how maths is part of daily life

• Develop enthusiasm for learning

And when the time comes for more formal lessons, they’ll have a strong foundation rooted in fun, curiosity, and confidence.

Final Thoughts

So next time your little one is singing a number rhyme, lining up their cars, or carefully counting steps on the stairs, remember—they’re not just playing. They’re building early maths skills that will help them for years to come.

At House on the Dials, we’re proud to nurture a love of maths that’s joyful, practical, and full of discovery—because when children enjoy learning, the foundations for future success are stronger than ever.