Adding long columns of numbers

Children are generally asked to add two numbers together. They come to view this as being the "usual" form of addition. However, in real life, it is sometimes more common to be required to add long columns of numbers. Many children see this as being daunting or as an imposition. They think that adding two numbers together is sufficiently challenging, and that adding a column of five or six numbers is an impossible mountain for them to scale. There is only one way for them to discover that they can do such a calculation, and that is for them to try. If children can be introduced to doing these without being given time to think about it, they will take it for granted; but given time to think about how hard it will be, they will "psyche" themselves out of being able to complete this type of sum. It is not the children's ability that is the limiting factor in so many cases, but the children's belief in their own ability. Puppet maths attempts to bolster children's belief in their own ability by making maths fun, helping them to get their answers right and developing a virtuous circle in which the child does well at maths leading to better self esteem, leading to better results.