Category: Early Childhood Development

As parents, we often celebrate early milestones—first words, counting to ten, recognizing colors. But beneath these visible achievements lie preschool cognitive skills that quietly shape how children think, learn, and adapt. Skills like memory, attention, reasoning, and problem-solving form the foundation of lifelong learning.

In the world of early childhood education, noticing how a child thinks is just as important as what they know. That’s why programs like i-Maths focus on building strong thinking abilities early—through structured, play-based learning that supports natural brain development.

The good news? Struggling in certain areas doesn’t mean something is “wrong.” It simply means your child may need a little extra guidance at the right time. 

This blog breaks down five everyday signs parents often overlook, explains how cognitive development unfolds in early childhood, and offers simple ways to support your child’s thinking skills

When parents hear “math,” they often picture numbers, worksheets, and calculations. But in the early years, math plays a much bigger role. Early math skills quietly shape how children think, reason, and approach challenges—long before grades or exams come into the picture.

From sorting toys to figuring out simple puzzles, math influences a child’s cognitive skills and ability to solve everyday problems. In this blog, we’ll explore how early math strengthens problem-solving, how it shows up in real life, simple activities parents can try at home, and how structured learning programs like i-Maths support this crucial stage of development.

Raising a child in today’s world of AI, automation, and algorithms isn’t easy. That’s why skills like lateral thinking are just as essential as critical thinking and creativity. These worries become more significant when your child is between the ages 3-7. This is the time when the prefrontal cortex (the brain’s control center for problem-solving) is highly flexible, making it the perfect window to develop lateral thinking.

The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report highlights analytical thinking as the top foundational skill, with creative thinking also among the highest-rated. This shows that tomorrow’s workforce will need to balance logic with imagination.

But here’s where lateral thinking becomes essential for your child as it acts as a bridge between analytical and creative thoughts. This raises an important question: what is lateral thinking and why is it considered so critical for children?

Kids today are surrounded by entertainment — cartoons on TV, sounds from tablets, reels popping up everywhere.

But when it comes to reading? Many simply don’t feel interested anymore. Attention spans are shrinking long before Grade 1 even begins. Children can swipe, tap and scroll for hours, but they struggle to read a story for even 5 minutes.

As a result, we have over a million children who are below grade level in reading. That’s where interactive experiences like reading bedtime stories with children can help. Parents can also enroll their children in programs like i-Maths, where storytelling games and logic-based activities are part of their daily curriculum.

But what more can parents do to nurture observation, logic, and creativity in their children and make them better readers? Let’s find out. 

Have you ever noticed how toddlers can draw circles, squares, and triangles even before they can count to ten? Because shapes are everywhere, they can spot a circle in the clock, a triangle in a pizza slice, or a square in a toy block. 

In fact, by age 3, approximately 60% of children can recognize these basic shapes, and this percentage rises to 80% by age 5. That’s why shapes are often called the secret language of preschool learning; they’re quietly building the foundation for math, logic, and problem-solving in ways most parents don’t even notice. However, we at i-Maths observe this every day: preschoolers who engage in shape-based learning develop stronger reasoning abilities, improved memory, and increased confidence in tackling early math concepts.

So, why exactly are shapes so powerful for preschool learning? Let’s explore how this hidden language of circles, triangles, and squares sets the stage for lifelong learning.

Walk into a room full of preschoolers, and you’ll see something extraordinary. Their minds are like sponges – absorbing, questioning, and connecting dots at lightning speed. But here’s the alarming truth: what happens in these early years can shape a child’s entire future—academically, socially, and even economically.

Parents often wonder if early education is really necessary, or whether “kids will just catch up later.” The science says otherwise. Let’s dive into why early learning is a lifelong investment.

Your little one proudly puts on their backpack, waves goodbye, and marches into a classroom full of new faces. As a parent, it’s a bittersweet mix of excitement and nerves. But before that big milestone, the question naturally pops up, “Is my child really ready for kindergarten?”

Research gives us a clear answer: readiness isn’t just about knowing the alphabet or counting to 100. According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), children who attend high-quality preschool or early childhood education programs enter kindergarten more prepared, both academically and socially, than those who don’t. Another study found that kindergarten readiness strongly predicts later academic achievement, up to third grade.

So, it’s not just about what your preschooler knows; it’s about whether they’ve developed the social, emotional, and cognitive skills to thrive in a structured classroom environment. And here’s the good news: those skills are already taking shape through everyday preschool activities, play, and interactions at home.

Let’s walk through seven clear signs that your child might just be ready for this exciting leap.

This question hits hard, doesn’t it? Whether you’re a first-time parent or doing this preschool selection for the second or third time, choosing the right preschool often feels like a mix of detective work, intuition, and a leap of faith.

But don’t worry, we’re about to decode the mystery together. And no, it’s not just about having pretty classrooms or serving gluten-free snacks. Choosing a preschool means choosing your child’s very first classroom, where curiosity is sparked, little brains begin absorbing math and language, and tiny social lives bloom.

Let’s break it all down and help you pick a preschool that truly nurtures your child’s early growth.