Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school Any good program or bk for maths and reading?

Thanks all of you!
Ash, agree with u about what language I should use for reading to him, and totally agree that it is more easy to do math in Asian language ��
Puffin, I also agree that math based toys are good.
My son asking me to use toys to teach him negative numbers, do any of you know any good toys/method to show him negative numbers? I can tell him verbally, e.g. you have three cookies but mom want to eat five, sth like that. Thanks.

I suggest you don't show him negative numbers, but rather, encourage him to invent them. Confirm to him that yes, there are numbers less than zero (you've already done this!) and ask him how they go. Explore together the consequences of what he decides. At this age he isn't going to get confused about something he's about to be taught in school; it's in some ways even more interesting if he invents a variant that doesn't work quite the same way as the conventional negative numbers than if he discovers the conventional ones. I remember my son inventing three dimensional shapes with their own properties and quizzing me on them - lots of fun and great for mathematical thinking!

Colons, thanks for your great suggestion. Agree that it is better to encourage creative thinking process than learning the truth in this age. Actually my son has poor problem solving skill and low confidence. ��