Family calendar, board games, cash register… Concrete tools to prepare the abstract

When a child learns to count, manage money, or follow a routine, their brain needs a bridge between the real world and invisible concepts . That bridge is the progression from concrete to abstract , a key teaching method for building strong skills. Here’s why this principle should guide all learning, from math to everyday management. Why does the concrete always come first? The human brain, especially a child's, is wired to learn through senses and action . Before it can manipulate symbols or complex ideas, it must first feel , touch , and experience . Here are three examples that illustrate this logic: 1. The value of numbers Concrete : Group cubes into tens, exchange 10 units for 1 ten. Abstract : Understand that the “1” in 214 represents 10, and the “2” represents 200. Why it works : Physical manipulation gives tangible meaning to positional value, avoiding errors like “214 = 2+1+4.” 2. Learning about money Concrete : Pay in cash with coins and notes. Abstract : Using a bank card or managing a digital account. Why it works : Handling real money teaches the concept of exchange and value, long before you can conceptualize a bank balance. 3. Daily routines Concrete : One pictogram per action (example: bed made → clothes → breakfast). Abstract : A single “morning routine” symbol suggesting a 5-step sequence. Why it works : Concrete detail structures memory, then abstract develops autonomy and flexibility. The role of the abstract: generalizing and freeing thought Once the concrete has been mastered, the abstract allows us to: Transfer skills to new situations (example: using the same mathematical rules for cooking or DIY). Gain in efficiency (example: moving from a wall calendar to an app like Octave). Stimulate creativity (example: invent a story from abstract words like “courage” or “friendship”). But be careful : Skipping the concrete step risks creating gaps. A child who has never counted real objects might see fractions or equations as magic formulas…and not as logical tools. In the digital age: the concrete remains more crucial than ever Screens and apps (calculators, digital calendars, educational games) are abstract tools by nature . For a child to use them intelligently, they must first anchor the concepts in reality: Before using Octave (abstract task management), one must understand time with a physical calendar and magnets . Before playing an educational video game about fractions, you have to have shared a pizza with your family. The trap to avoid : Believing that digital replaces the sensory experience. In reality, it completes it… provided that the concrete basis is solid! Practical tips for applying this method Play before you teach : Use LEGO for math, role play for money, cooking recipes for measurements. Connecting the abstract to the everyday : Show that additions are used to calculate the total of groceries, or that conjugated verbs structure the sentences of their favorite stories. Respect the rhythm : Some children need to manipulate for a long time before moving on to abstract. Others get the hang of things quickly. Adapt! In summary: From the real to the invisible, a necessary journey Moving from the concrete to the abstract is to reproduce the natural path of human learning: I touch, I see, I experience → I understand . I symbolize, I generalize → I master . 🚀 Find this article and much more in the Octave app : shared calendar, collaborative task list, meal planner, centralization of family information and autonomy monitoring - your number 1 ally for an organized family life! 📱✨

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Family calendar, board games, cash register… Concrete tools to prepare the abstract

06 March, 2025

Why does the concrete always c...