A community approach to introducing young children to early mathematics: a study of Kosraean preschool children in their homes

Abstract

This study seeks to determine the impact of parents at home on the development of mathematical concepts among young children of preschool age. This study also looks into the influences of other members of the family, relatives, and the community in the mathematics development of the child-research participant. It focuses on the influences of parents and other members of the family to their children's mathematics learning at home or in the community The study seeks to answer the following questions: 1. How do parents influence preschool children's mathematics learning? 2. How do other members of the family and people in the community contribute to the mathematics development of preschool children? To seek answers to these questions, case studies of families were developed from focus group meetings, interviews with parents, observations of children at their homes, and parents' diaries of children activities, which were kept in the home. Findings suggest that the various environments; although they are all island environments, differently influence both the development of mathematical language and the range of mathematics activities in the homes and community in which each child lives. The nuclear family influences, the extended family influences, and neighbors' influences contributed to the mathematics development of each child. The history of Kosrae and the culture and traditions are indirect influences that also contribute to the mathematics learning or preschool children. Information about the knowledge and skills that the children acquire at home may be useful to educators and allow them to improve the learning of mathematics in children's first years in school.