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Mathematics is a subject that many students find difficult. Some even consider it to be one of the most difficult subjects in school. It is important for parents to understand that no matter how hard their kids may think math is, there are ways to make learning math fun and easy.
Here are some ideas you can use in making your child like math.
1. Have a positive attitude towards math.
If you want your child to learn to love math, then you have to start by loving it yourself. Children are very perceptive and they will sense if you are uncomfortable or anxious about math, which will in turn influence their perception of the subject.
So, you need to believe that your child can do it, and let them know that you believe they can do it too. This is the first step to getting your kids interested in math.
2. Let your child learn math through games
Children love playing and what better way to teach them something than to turn it into a game?
There are many games that incorporate learning of math concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
If your child loves math facts, you can use flashcards with them and turn it into a game where the first one to give the right answer gets to keep the card. You can also let your child play board games like Monopoly or Scrabble that involve numbers.
3. Use everyday activities to teach math
You don’t need expensive toys or games to teach your child math. There are so many opportunities in everyday life for you to use numbers and math with your children.
For example, you can use cooking or baking as an opportunity for them to learn about measurement, fractions, addition and more.
When you are out shopping, you could help them figure out how much money you need for the purchase or how much change you will get back from the cashier.
4. Make it personal
Personalize their learning and make it relevant to their interests. If your child is interested in sports, fashion, or music, add topics related to their interest into your lessons.
For instance your child's interest is in sports, when calculating the radius of a circle, you can ask your child what is the name of the famous NBA player who wears that number?
This kind of diversion makes them pay attention because they want to know the answer and also love the game.
5. Give them opportunities to share their ideas
You'll be amazed at your child's ideas when you let him or her share them freely. Discussions give your child a chance to explain their thinking.
This can really help you understand where you need to "go deeper" or where you need to help them clarify their understanding.
Even if your child's ideas don't match your own, it's still an opportunity to know what your child may be struggling with.
6. Make learning fun.
When teaching kids, it is important to make lessons as fun as possible so that they look forward to it and enjoy learning new things.
Try giving them interesting games and toys that will keep them entertained and help them practice their skills at the same time. Some examples include tangrams, flash cards, and puzzles.
These educational activities will get them used to thinking in terms of numbers while making the whole experience enjoyable for them.