You might want to get a chair for this one.
If you have read the “4 ways to improve your child’s learning mindset” blog, you will remember that I talked briefly about my relationship with mathematics and how my parents helped me through it.
I am sure a lot of children can relate to my experience then. The struggle with formulas, keeping up with school work, and hatred for assignments. It is understandable that when you are not getting great results trying something, you lose interest. But we are here to help your child get those great results.
5 Creative Ways to Help Your Child Love Math
- Change their perspective.
How do they see Mathematics?
One of the most common reasons that Mathematics does not appear interesting to children is that they assume it’s hard, and so they haven’t made any real effort, without a bias, to think of it differently. You can have a conversation with them about it, or even simply show them with engaging resources that Math is not difficult.
- Give them real-life problems to solve
This will make them feel responsible and understand the practical uses of what they are learingn. It expands their minds to see that Math is more than addition & subtraction on paper, and can be used to budget their new toy, calculate how many eggs to fry, etc.
You can also find a way to incorporate storytelling and objects in your environment in mathematics. Use their names for scenarios, make it funny, and use household items or their best food. Immerse them into whatever problem they are solving.
Also, despite my strong reservations about maths as a child, I always looked forward to solving word problems. The stories, the names, and the scenarios captured my attention so much that It totally shifted my attention away from the fear I would normally have.
- Encourage them to practice!
Doing this often makes them sense that you are more involved, and they are not alone. They feel supported and will be even more interested if you attempt to practice with them. Practice makes improvement.
- Take their study time outside.
You can never go wrong with a day out. Dress up for it, make seem like it’s just like every other outing because it really is, then incorporate little activities like counting pebbles on the beach or counting the birds on a tree. I have memories of taking evening strolls with my dad and my little brother. We would count cars as they zoomed by, and shout out the numbers out loud. Fun times taught me amazing lessons.
- Reward little milestones
Children like to know that you are paying attention, so whenever you notice some improvement, make remarks, applaud them, or get them nice things. They will always want to beat their last record.
This takes me back to my childhood once more. I caught up with learning how to read the time very late, and my mum taught me with chalk on the floor, paper and pen, and all sorts. Anywhere in our house with a flat surface had the potential of being aboard. She would ask me out of nowhere to check the time for her and call it out to her in the kitchen. I remember always staring so hard at our beautiful red and black clock adorned with flowers for so long. I would count my fingers and do all sorts. I always got the time eventually, but it always took me a while. She then told me that the faster I shouted out the time, the higher my points would be.
Hearing that, I would rush to the clock, look up and stare, and then shout out the time as fast as I could just to get my Mum’s imaginary points. She would smile and clap out of genuine excitement, and that alone was enough points for me. It wasn’t long before I became the fastest “time teller” at home and in school.
Mathematics can not only be fun for your child, but it can also be your child’s best subject. Take it to the next level and sign up on Gradely today to access our engaging assessments & video lessons in Math, English, and many other subjects.
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Eniola Makinde
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