In the Foundation Stage, mathematical problems are often just everyday events with a mathematical aspect: making sure that everyone has a biscuit; working out how to check that none of the teddies is missing; or deciding the best way to stack the large blocks. Children taking part in these activities are using the maths that they know to help them find solutions and are sometimes learning new facts and ideas on the way.
The important point about problem-solving is that it involves choices, so children have the opportunity to reason and make decisions.
Children's problem-solving strategies and skills develop through investigating and finding solutions for a wide range of different practical problems. Some will have quick solutions, while others will take much of the session time or may even need to be revisited during the course of a week.
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