Nursery World - EYFS Best Practice: All about… spatial reasoning

Spatial reasoning skills are critical to early learning, particularly in mathematics, and need to be supported by engaging children’s entire bodies. Dr Jennifer S Thom explains why

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The importance of spatial reasoning cannot be overstated. It is vital to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills, which are now so sought after in the workplace, but its importance also extends far beyond these disciplines to every facet of our lives and to how we think. As a consequence, practitioners need to be aware of its implications for supporting early learning, particularly in mathematics.

Spatial reasoning, also known as spatial thinking or more comprehensively, spatial cognition, does not lend itself to quick and easy definitions, however. This is because it is not content specific in the same manner that biology, the visual arts or mathematics are disciplines. It is a way of thinking that pervades all subject areas and enables deeper understanding of them.

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