With schools now closed and children settled into the rhythm of the long holiday, a familiar pattern is quietly taking shape in many households: books tucked away, routines relaxed and academic learning largely paused. For parents, this break is often seen as well-earned rest for their children. Yet beneath this pause lies a less visible risk; the gradual erosion of foundational numeracy skills that are critical to a child’s development. Foundational numeracy is often misunderstood as classroom mathematics—worksheets, exams and correct answers. In reality, it is far more practical and deeply woven into everyday life. It is the ability to make sense of numbers in ordinary situations: sharing food equally among siblings, calculating change at a shop, estimating how long a journey will take, or deciding whether there is enough money to buy a desired item. These are not school exercises; they are life skills. And during the holidays, children encounter these situations more fre...
Beyond the Game