Incidental learning, also known as play, can have advantages over more formal settings. Students who may worry about their performance, behavior, or achievement level in typical school settings, can benefit from the lower expectations and more relaxed atmosphere.
Context helps students imagine circumstances which require logical thinking and mathematical reasoning. It gives students a reason to practice calculations and a big picture rationale for spending time and energy to become proficient in the skills they are learning. Contextualizing math problems encourages youngsters to make deep personal connections with an academic subject which can be intimidating to many students.
