Making Maths Make Sense: Hands-On Tools for Maths Confidence

At LALI Services in Osborne Park, WA, we use a range of hands-on maths manipulatives to help neurodivergent children with dyscalculia and other learning differences build genuine number sense and confidence.

MAB Blocks (Mult-Base Arithmetic Blocks) help children visualise place value, showing the difference between ones, tens, hundreds and thousands in a concrete, physical way. This makes abstract concepts like carrying and borrowing in addition and subtraction far easier to understand.

Numicon uses colour-coded shapes with holes representing each number, helping children recognise number patterns, compare quantities and understand the relationships between numbers at a glance.

Unifix Cubes are interlocking blocks that help children count, group and build numbers physically. They are particularly effective for teaching addition, subtraction, skip counting and early multiplication concepts, as children can see exactly how numbers combine and separate.

Together, these multisensory tools allow children to see, touch and build numbers rather than simply memorising facts. By exploring place value, number patterns and basic operations through play and discovery, children develop a deeper understanding of how numbers truly work — building lasting confidence and a strong foundation for future maths learning.