The Ultimate Guide to Glenn Doman's Math Program
Doman Red Dot Cards
As the co-founder of Doman Learning and the grandson of Glenn Doman, I’ve had the unique opportunity to continue and expand upon my grandfather’s pioneering work in early childhood education, especially in regard to his work in early math learning. Glenn Doman's book, "How to Teach Your Baby Math" was the beginning of the Doman Baby Math program, and showcased how babies and toddlers can learn math using red dot flashcards to help them recognize and learn numbers and quantities from as early as 6 months old.
At Doman Learning, we are driven by the mission to empower parents to teach their children the joy of math before school age. Our dedication has led us to develop and introduce new teaching modules in our Math Before School course, specifically new teaching techniques and math materials for children over two years of age. Most people know the Doman Method math program as the “red dots,” but that program is primarily for young children. In this blog, I’ll give an overview of Glenn Doman’s early childhood math program from "How to Teach Your Baby Math" as well as provide our math curriculum for ages 2.5 to 6.
Glenn Doman’s Math Program and Innate Number Sense
Glenn Doman’s math program, also known as the “math dots”, comes from the human ability of ‘innate number sense’. This foundation brain function allows us to recognize quantities instantly without having to count. For example when you look at the picture below and instantly see 3 pens without counting them one by one you are using your innate number sense.
The automatic recognition of quantities is a fundamental mathematical skill that we all have to varying degrees. Understanding and developing this innate number sense is the core of our first modules in the Math Before School course and Glenn Doman’s baby math program. We want to build this natural ability in young learners, specifically kids between 6 months to 2.5 years. By developing innate number sense from an early age we set a strong foundation for their future math abilities. At Doman Learning our mission is to make sure children don’t just learn math they excel in it and most importantly enjoy it. That’s why the Doman Method baby math program starts by introducing quantities in a fun and easy way.
Teaching real quantity is the core of Doman Learning’s math curriculum because innate number sense is the most important and foundational mathematical ability we have. For example when we show children visual representations of numbers – showing them what 4 looks like or what 5 means using red dots – we’re not just teaching them to count we’re developing their innate ability to understand numbers intuitively.
This foundation skill is important for several reasons. First it allows a young child to do arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division faster and more accurately. But the benefits go way beyond just speed and accuracy. By developing a deep intuitive understanding of numbers from an early age we’re not just preparing children for success in math we’re helping them enjoy the subject. This positive relationship with math established early on with math dots lays the foundation for their future success in the subject for the rest of their lives.
At Doman Learning we believe by giving children the tools to develop their innate number sense we’re setting them on a path to not only succeed in math but to enjoy the journey of learning it. If you would like to learn more about innate number sense and how it predicts future math scores check out this study by Duke University.
Doman Learning’s Expansion of Glenn Doman’s Math Program (Ages 2.5 to 6)
Through our experiences and research we have found that the Glenn Doman math program is great at introducing babies and toddlers to numbers but older children struggle to recognize quantities. This is why we innovated and created our curriculum to ensure children 2.5 to 6 can learn and excel in math so they can have a strong foundation for future math success. The new modules in our Math Before School course still use innate number sense but take it to the next level.
In the Doman Math program we teach addition and subtraction using quantities to teach a deeper understanding of arithmetic. Using quantities and innate number sense you can teach your child arithmetic. Our method is to teach equations using red dot quantities on physical cards, this way children can see and understand mathematical operations. For example to teach your child two plus two equals four we don’t just state the equation we show each quantity involved, we make the abstract concept of addition concrete and understandable. This way of teaching which combines the visual representation of quantities with written equations helps a child to do mental math. When parents teach math equations like this children can do addition, subtraction and other arithmetic operations quickly and accurately in their heads.
Our Math Before School course teaches parents not only the Doman Method for math but also comes with all the digital math materials to teach this program at home. We want to make teaching your child math an intuitive and enjoyable experience for you and your child so they can develop the skills and confidence to be mathematically inclined from a very young age. Our program helps parents to teach math effectively by providing step by step instructions and materials.
Watch Spencer Doman teach addition and subtraction using quantities!
The Long-term Benefits of the Doman Math Program for Children
The long term effects of the Doman Math program on babies and toddlers are huge. Teaching math to a child with the Doman method at an early age doesn’t just give them a head start it changes their whole relationship with the subject. By incorporating red dot quantities into addition, subtraction and beyond we enable children to master math quickly and be able to do math operations with ease. The impact of early math education goes way beyond academic achievement.
Children taught with the Doman method from a young age tend to be more confident in math. This confidence comes from a foundation of strength in the subject built before they even get to a formal classroom. This confidence not only prepares them for higher scores on tests but also gives them a genuine love of math. This is key as children naturally gravitate towards what they are good at and a positive attitude towards math can influence their education for years to come.
Math is definitely a core subject in the education spectrum and plays a big role in future academic opportunities including university admissions. So early math education isn’t just about learning numbers it’s about setting them up for lifelong success and happiness.
Math Before School Course
To support parents in teaching math using the Doman Method, we are offering free resources, including Doman Math materials for quantities 0-9 below. Additionally, check out our Math Before School Course below. This course provides everything you need to teach an incredible math curriculum to your child, ensuring they not only excel in math but also develop a lasting love for the subject. If you want to try the program out download the free red dot quantity cards below. Discover how the Doman method can make a lifelong difference in your child’s education and start their journey to mathematical excellence today.
Click the button below to download Doman math quantities 0-9 for free!
