All Modules B6-Development Matters in the early years | Page 39

6 Mathematics: Shape, space and measure
A Unique Child:

Positive Relationships:

Enabling Environments:

observing what a child is learning

what adults could do

what adults could provide

Babies’ early awareness of shape, space and measure grows
from their sensory awareness and opportunities to observe
objects and their movements, and to play and explore.

See Characteristics of Effective Learning - Playing and
Exploring, and Physical Development.

See Characteristics of Effective Learning - Playing and
Exploring, and Physical Development.

79. Recognizes big things and small things in meaningful
contexts.
80. • Gets to know and enjoy daily routines, such as
getting-up time, mealtimes, nappy time, and bedtime.

• Play games that involve curling and stretching, popping
up and bobbing down.
• Encourage babies’ explorations of the characteristics of
objects, e.g. by rolling a ball to them.
• Talk about what objects are like and how objects, such as
a sponge, can change their shape by being squeezed or
stretched.

• Provide a range of objects of various textures and
weights in treasure baskets to excite and encourage
babies’ interests.
• Look at books showing objects such as a big truck and
a little truck; or a big cat and a small kitten.
• Use story props to support all children and particularly
those learning English as an additional language.

16-26 months

81. Attempts, sometimes successfully, to fit shapes into spaces
on inset boards or jigsaw puzzles.
82. Uses blocks to create their own simple structures
and arrangements.
83. Enjoys filling and emptying containers.
84. Associates a sequence of actions with daily routines.
85. • Beginning to understand that things might happen ‘now’.
86. Is eager to explore and learn

• Use ‘tidy up time’ to promote logic and reasoning about
where things fit in or are kept.
• Talk to children, as they play with water or sand, to
encourage them to think abou Ёݡ