The purpose of the study was to compare the perception of mothers about mathematics education for young children and mathematical environment at home. For this purpose, the questionnaire was distributed to 565 mothers of young children who enrolled in child care centers.
As the result, mothers recognized that mathematics education should be focused on nurturing children’s interest about mathematics and there was a difference in the perception of mothers on the purpose of mathematics education according to children’s age. About the content of mathematics, mothers perceived that space and shape is very important as the content of mathematics education for young children. There was a difference in the perception of mothers on the content of mathematics education according to the education level of mothers.
In addition, mothers perceived concrete materials as the important mathematical materials for children and they thought that four years old is appropriate for teaching mathematics. They responded that they had a difficulty in how to teach mathematics for their children and the perception was differed according to the education level of mothers and working mothers.
About the mathematical environment at home, mothers emphasized counting for the content of mathematics education at home and they responded that they teach mathematics directly for their children. They also responded that concrete materials are equipped at home as the most popular mathematical materials. There was a difference in mathematical activities at home according to the children’s age.
Compared to the perception of mothers about mathematics education and home environment, there was a difference between the perception of mothers on mathematics education and mathematical environment at home. Mothers perceived that it is important to teach mathematics through play in the classroom and at home. They perceived that teachers and parents should play with their children to teach mathematics so that children can be nurtured to have curiosity and interest in mathematics.