The Spindle Box is introduced to the child once they are able to identify the numbers from 1-9. This activity is used primarily to show the child that numbers can represent a collection of separate objects. It is also where the quantity of “zero” is first introduced and where the realization comes that “0” to “9” are all the symbols needed for arithmetic. The Spindle Box brings the concept of numbers from an abstract place to a more concrete one, where the child can see and touch and truly internalize their meaning.
