Spatial thinking—the ability to visualize, manipulate, and reason about objects in space,—is essential for success in mathematics and other subjects such as science, engineering, and technology. Spatial thinking plays a role not only in learning about basic shapes, but also is important in higher mathematics such as geometry and algebra. For instance, spatial thinking can help students to visualize word problems (e.g., using arrays to think about multiplication problems), picture equations, and graphs, and to solve problems related to area, volume, and angles. In today’s world, where more time is spent indoors with increased passive screen time and limited opportunities for exploration and play, spatial skills are often underdeveloped in young children.
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