Math Buzz is a collaborative project coordinated by the University of Helsinki. The project partners are the University of Helsinki, the University of Jyväskylä, the Finnish Association of Mathematics and Science Teachers (MAOL), and Åbo Akademi University.
Children aged 0 to 8 have highly unequal opportunities to practise and develop their mathematical skills. These differences are reflected in early childhood education and care settings, pre-primary education, and the home environment. They are also evident in the mathematical skills of children starting school and in the widening achievement gaps that occur during the school years.
Parents, caregivers, and early childhood education professionals play a crucial role in supporting the development of mathematical skills, as these skills do not develop automatically. Children who have limited opportunities to practise and develop their skills are at greater risk of experiencing difficulties in learning mathematics, which can affect their later learning and educational outcomes.
To ensure that all children have opportunities to develop a broad range of mathematical skills, learning activities should be based on forms of engagement that are natural and meaningful to children. Children learn through play, movement, and exploration. For this reason, child-centred approaches and participation are central both to the Math Buzz project and to the development of mathematical skills. Furthermore, accessibility, meaning every child's opportunity to develop their skills, should not depend on family background, place of residence, language, or the expertise of professionals working with children.
Today, there are already many excellent materials and practices available to support the development of mathematical skills in everyday interactions with children. However, these resources often do not: (1) meet the needs of different user groups, such as families, extracurricular activity leaders, and early childhood education professionals; (2) remain easy to find and access; or (3) take a sufficiently ambitious child-centred approach to mathematical learning. As a result, they have limited success in fostering widespread interest and enthusiasm for mathematics among children.
The central mission of Math Buzz is to make learning mathematical skills accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for all children, while bringing meaningful mathematical experiences within the reach of as many children as possible.
The Math Buzz project focuses on three key areas of activity that enable us to reach a wide range of early childhood education professionals, leisure-time instructors, and families.
Math Buzz organises a nationwide Training Tour for early childhood education professionals and leisure-time instructors. The training sessions are based on the latest research on how mathematical skills can be developed through play, movement, reading, and exploration. The Training Tour is delivered bilingually in Finnish and Swedish.
Math Buzz brings the joy of learning mathematics to families through pop-up events and family clubs. These activities provide children and adults with enjoyable opportunities to explore and develop mathematical skills together.
Throughout the project, an active social media campaign engages adults who play an important role in children's lives, including parents, relatives, and early childhood education professionals. The campaign highlights ways to support mathematical learning through play, movement, and exploration. Each week, engaging and accessible content promoting mathematics and mathematical learning is shared through key social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
The Math Buzz project is funded by the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation for the period 2025–2028.