Concrete Materials

Why is it so difficult for young children to understand things?

It is not because they are young, or that they are still learning. It is about their developmental stage. 

According to a theorist named Jean Piaget, children go through 4 stages of development. From 0 to 2, they are in sensorimotor, from 2 to 7, they are in preoperational, then from 7 to 11, they are in concrete operational, and finally, when they are older than 11, they are in the formal operational. The definition of operation “is the ability to accurately imagine the consequences of something happening without it actually needing to happen” (MentalHelp.net, 2020).

Children can connect symbols with objects during the preoperational stage, but they are unable to do operations, so they need to have the physical objects to learn from (Santrock, 2019). We need to use real objects, or at least pictures, to illustrate concepts when we teach them. The coronavirus can be tricky to teach, but we can begin by using pictures. Cool science experiments such as this are good in helping children gain an understanding.

Then in the concrete operational stage, children can use operations but they are restricted to concrete objects, so they are still unable to do algebra (Santrock, 2019). When you show them 2 blocks and ask them to make a bridge without touching them, they are able to visualise in their minds. But don't expect them to do so with objects that are somewhere else.

Whereas in the formal operational stage, children can think abstractly, and they can imagine for themselves what future they would like to create (Santrock, 2019). This is when children are becoming teenagers, and we can harness their sudden "idealism" by guiding them in a positive direction. 

One good way to teach Math to children is using the CPA (Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract) approach. Concrete objects are first used to teach concepts, then for Pictorial, children connect physical objects to pictures, and finally for Abstract, children must have a good understanding of the previous stage, to use mathematical symbols to solve problems (MNP, 2020).

Obviously, this means that children need toys to learn from, not iPads or phones. If we allow children to use technology as the primary means of learning, they will not be able to develop properly.

References

MentalHelp.net. (2020). Cognitive Development: Piaget’s Concrete Operations. Retrieved from MentalHelp.net: https://www.mentalhelp.net/cognitive-development/piagets-concrete-operations/

MNP. (2020). CPA Approach. Retrieved from MATHS NO PROBLEM!: https://mathsnoproblem.com/en/mastery/concrete-pictorial-abstract/

Santrock, J. W. (2019). Life-span Development (17th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.