31/05/2025

SATURDAY | MAY 31, 2025

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COMMENT by Syed Azman Syed Ismail and Assoc Prof Dr Siti Mistima Maat

T HERE was a time when numbers were more than just symbols on exam papers or exercises on worksheets. Mathematics revealed itself naturally during childhood play while we measured ingredients in the kitchen or counted shells on the beach. Over time, this joy has been replaced by pressure from exams, tuition sessions and tightly packed academic schedules. Today, school holidays often resemble extensions of the school term. Many students spend their breaks in additional classes, remedial lessons and revision classes. Concerned about academic progress, families enrol children in continuous tuition with the aim of addressing learning gaps before the next term begins. However, children are not machines in need of constant adjustments. They are curious learners who thrive when given opportunities to explore their surroundings. Some of the most meaningful mathematical understandings can emerge outside the classroom, particularly when there is freedom to experiment and play. The holiday period offers a valuable opportunity to reconnect with mathematics in ways that are enjoyable, practical and imaginative. Mathematical thinking exists in many parts of daily life. Games such as dominos promote counting, pattern recognition and strategic thinking. Traditional activities like congkak or card sorting can improve number sense in ways that feel natural rather than like formal lessons. Even classic board games such as Snakes and Ladders or Monopoly can provide insights into probability, mental calculation and decision-making. The kitchen is another space where mathematics can come alive. Cooking involves multiplying, dividing and converting measurements, all within a meaningful context.

Learning maths through play and daily life

Traditional activities like congkak or card sorting can improve number sense

“Bringing back the joy of numbers does not require special equipment or advanced knowledge. It requires time, attention and a willingness to see the world through a mathematical lens.

in ways that feel natural

rather than like formal lessons. – BERNAMAPIC

careers, some detours and many life lessons. Nothing was wasted. It all shaped me. 0 Believe that it is possible: This is the most important one. If you keep telling yourself it is too late, too hard or not for you, you will stay stuck. Instead, tell yourself: “ Something is waiting for me. I just have to keep going.” It is never too late You are not behind, not too old and you do not need to have it all figured out. Just take one small, meaningful step forward. The world needs people who are alive, inspired and aligned with their gifts. Not perfect. If you are feeling stuck, lost or uninspired in your current job, let that discomfort be a messenger, not a life sentence. Start listening to what excites you and to what moves you. Take the class. Try the thing. Follow the tug. You do not need to quit everything tomorrow. But you do need to believe that your longing is not random; it is a compass. If you keep following it, one step at a time, it will lead you somewhere beautiful. Nahlana T. Kreshnan is a somatic psychotherapist and life and executive coach. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com The classroom will always be there. Academic learning will resume in due course. In the meantime, the school holiday can serve as a reminder that mathematics is not limited to textbooks or test scores. It is present in everyday decisions, joyful discoveries and playful moments. Bringing back the joy of numbers does not require special equipment or advanced knowledge. It requires time, attention and a willingness to see the world through a mathematical lens. This holiday, help children rediscover that learning can be both meaningful and enjoyable. Syed Azman Syed Ismail and Assoc Prof Dr Siti Mistima Maat are from the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

athletes perform better after recovery periods, students benefit from breaks that allow them to return refreshed and ready to learn. This is particularly true for those who struggle with mathematics during the school term. Rest and play can help rebuild confidence while constant drilling may lead to burnout and discouragement. School holidays do not need to become unstructured or unproductive. They can become an opportunity to show children that mathematics exists all around them. With a bit of intention, families can incorporate mathematics into shared activities without turning them into lessons. Counting ingredients, keeping score in games, measuring distances or telling stories with numbers can all contribute to deeper understanding in a relaxed environment.

difficult

or

intimidating,

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experiences can be transformative. When numbers are part of a game, a recipe or a journey plan, the focus shifts from memorisation to problem-solving. Understanding grows and the anxiety often associated with the subject begins to ease. This does not mean that all structures must be removed. For those who prefer some continuity, light learning can still be part of the holiday routine. Short engaging challenges or mathematics journals focused on holiday themes can be both fun and educational.

Planning a family trip can lead to discussions about distance, time, budgeting and resource management. These everyday tasks allow children to apply mathematics without pressure, helping them to see the subject as a useful and relevant tool. For students who find mathematics One small step can change everything I LOVE my work. Educational websites and mobile applications now offer puzzles that reward creativity and logic rather than speed and repetition. It is important to remember that rest is also a vital part of learning. Just as

I never let go of that knowing. No matter what other jobs I had to do to make ends meet, I held that vision in my heart. I kept telling myself: Dreams are meant to come true. Maybe not instantly but eventually. Now, here I am, doing what I love. How do you find the work you love? 0 Follow your curiosity: You may not know what your passion is yet but you probably know what interests you. Start there. Sign up for a course. Volunteer. Read about it. Curiosity is a breadcrumb trail. 0 Notice what energises you: Think about moments when you have felt truly alive. What were you doing? Who were you helping? What kind of environment were you in? These clues matter. 0 Stop waiting for clarity. Take action: Clarity often comes after action, not before. You won’t know if something is right until you try it. 0 Let go of“all or nothing”thinking: You don’t have to quit your job tomorrow. You can build slowly in the background. Many people start with a side hustle, part-time study or weekend projects. 0 Trust your timing: I did not become a therapist in my 20s. I arrived here after other

I stay regulated because if I am not, they will feel it. My role is to be fully present, to listen deeply and to trust what arises in the space between us.

I love being a therapist – a midwife of sorts – supporting clients as they give birth to new parts of themselves. When a client has a breakthrough, I do not pump my fist in the air. Instead, I pause, acknowledge them and gently affirm what I often remind them: “You made a wise and courageous decision to begin this work and to keep going even when it got tough.” Then I offer a quiet thank you to the higher powers of the universe – the unseen, the all knowing. One of the things I deeply cherish is the diversity among my clients: people of different races, backgrounds and beliefs. Each one is welcome to bring their personal connection to the divine into our sessions. Some pray during our time together – offering gratitude or asking for what their heart longs for. It is all welcome. What a privilege it is to witness such honesty and reverence. People often ask me: “Don’t you get tired?” The truth is, the work itself doesn’t tire me. My clients or the issues they bring do not wear me down. That is because I engage in a way that is grounded, clear and deeply intuitive.

When you do the work you are meant to do, it does not drain you . It may challenge you, stretch you and humble you but it also nourishes you. Do you love your work? If not, do you ever wonder whether you can? Do you catch yourself thinking: “Is it really possible to do what I love and get paid for it?” The answer is yes. But the path is not always straight or predictable. When I was younger, I worked in the hotel industry and I loved it. Then, life nudged me in a new direction and I found myself in recruitment, working as a headhunter. I loved that too, for a while. Until I burned out. While I was quietly falling apart, I started therapy. That process – painful, eye-opening and deeply healing – lit a spark in me. I began signing up for short counselling courses. Then I explored other therapeutic modalities. And somewhere along the way, I knew: This is it. This is what I am meant to do not because it looked glamorous or safe or profitable but because something in me came alive.