Maybe a better idea would be to present maths as a set of rules for a game. Simple rules - complicated game. If they don't like the complicated game they can still learn only the simple rules and pass exams ;-) Don't try to connect mathematical entities to reality. Complex numbers, n dimensions, calculus etc will give your young friend a lot of trouble if she tries to visualise them later in high school. Arghh, I'm just babbling. BTW, maths used to my fav subject too. Not anymore. I decided to study applied maths and things got %$"#$%&# complicated. I hope I'll have my b.sc. by the end of October. It's gonna be a long summer as I will be writing my final thesis.
Maybe a better idea would be to present maths as a set of rules for a game. Simple rules - complicated game. If they don't like the complicated game they can still learn only the simple rules and pass exams ;-) Don't try to connect mathematical entities to reality. Complex numbers, n dimensions, calculus etc will give your young friend a lot of trouble if she tries to visualise them later in high school. Arghh, I'm just babbling. BTW, maths used to my fav subject too. Not anymore. I decided to study applied maths and things got %$"#$%&# complicated. I hope I'll have my b.sc. by the end of October. It's gonna be a long summer as I will be writing my final thesis.
P.S. You don't want to raise a junkie ;-)