This text provides practical guidance for parents, teachers and other early years workers who are concerned to give children a good start in mathematical development. Linda Pound highlights the importance of recognizing the earliest precursors to successful mathematical achievement, and of building upon these to promote interest in, and enthusiasm for mathematics. Practitioners and parents are encouraged to have confidence in their own mathematical ability and to recognize the ways in which they and children behave mathematically in everyday life. The relationship between sensitive observation of children's growing mathematical understanding and the promotion of mathematical thinking through children's interests and play is underlined. The emphasis throughout is upon fostering mathematical thinking in line with the recognized principles of good practice in early childhood education.
