Mathematics is one of the most difficult subjects for kids to learn, and, thus, they need help and support from their parents. But what should you do if you are not good at Math and it never was your cup of tea but your little learner asks for help?
Don’t panic! Here are some tips to help improve math skills in your child.
1. Praise and encourage your kids even for the smallest attempts to reach their goals. Try not to belittle their achievements and avoid negative messages, like “It’s not a big problem that you’re bad at math, so was I.” Instead of that focus on positive supportive and motivating phrases, like “You may not understand it yet, but I am sure we can work it out together.”
2. Teach your child that math is a part of the world and our everyday life. Math is everywhere: you can count clouds or flower petals, guess the heights of the trees, or calculate the circumference of the snail house. It is very important especially for young children. Find ways to incorporate math into any topic you’re talking about as the opportunity arises, either while going for a walk or playing games, or watching movies.
3. Make your little one’s interests and hobbies linked to Math at any time anywhere. Reply and discuss their questions as soon as they show their interest. If they are keen on animals go to the zoo and count wild creatures there. Tracks, dinosaurs, trains, sport – everything can become an intriguing and captivating topic to talk about, just connect math to what interests your child. Pay attention to free printable kindergarten math worksheets to have a couple in your pocket to practice math with your kid at a suitable time.
4. Encourage your children to teach you Math! Explaining something to somebody else is a great way of consolidating knowledge, and, what is more important, children will be proud of explaining to you what they have already learned. Being “a Math teacher” will promote their confidence and motivation to study.
5. For parents it may seem the methodology of teaching Math today differs significantly from the one that was popular in schools earlier. But basic principles of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division remain the same. Thus, showing your “old” method of counting and then learning a “modern” one together will be of great use and fun for both parents and children.
6. Yes, the methodology of teaching Math has been changed for the better nowadays. It is not long sheets full of multiplication problems to be solved anymore. Today mathematic skills can be developed by the activities and projects where math is only part of the challenge but not monotonous drilling. Diversity of games, puzzles, playful music activities is a helpful tool for teaching young learners Math.
7. Take your time. Every kid has his own individual pace for learning math. Mathematics is not a race. Remember that it took mankind about three centuries to solve Fermat’s Last Theorem.
8. Remember you are not alone. Feel free to communicate to the teachers, other parents or share your experiences and successes in live journals and parenting blogs like this one: interesting blog for parents.
