Although
you can't make your child like
math, you can encourage her to do so, and you can take steps to ensure
that she learns to appreciate its value both in her everyday life and
in preparing for her future. You might point out to her how fortunate
she is to have the opportunity to learn mathematics today—when
mathematics knowledge can open the door to so many interesting and
exciting possibilities.
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In everyday
interactions with children, there are many things that
parents can do—and do without lecturing or applying pressure—to help
children learn to solve problems, to communicate mathematically and to
demonstrate reasoning abilities. These skills are fundamental to
learning mathematics.
We can teach our young learners to stick with a problem
to find a solution; to understand that
there may be
different ways to arrive at an answer. You can encourage your
child to apply math to
everyday situations. You can encourage your child to be a good problem
solver by including him in routine activities that involve math—for
example, measuring, weighing, figuring costs and comparing prices of
things he wants to buy. More tips to help your child learn math:
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Problems Can Be Solved in Different Ways.
Although most math problems have only one answer, there may be many ways to get to that answer. Learning math is more than finding the correct answer; it's also a process of solving problems and applying what you've learned to new problems. -
Wrong Answers Can Be Useful.
Accuracy is always important in math. However, sometimes you can use a wrong answer to help your child figure out why she made a mistake. Analyzing wrong answers can help your child to understand the concepts underlying the problem and to learn to apply reasoning skills to arrive at the correct answer. Ask your child to explain how she solved a math problem. Her explanation might help you discover if she needs help with number skills, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, or with the concepts involved in solving the problem. -
Take Risks!
Teach your child to be a risk taker. Help him see the value of trying to solve a problem, even if it's difficult. Give your child time to explore different approaches to solving a difficult problem. As he works, encourage him to talk about what he is thinking. This will help strengthen problem solving skills and to become an independent thinker!
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Being Able to Do Math in Your Head Is Important.
Mathematics isn't restricted to pencil and paper activities. Doing math "in your head" (mental math) is a valuable skill that comes in handy as we make quick calculations of costs in stores, restaurants or gas stations. Let your child know that by using mental math, her math skills will become stronger. -
It's OK to Use a Calculator.
It's OK to use calculators to solve math problems—sometimes. They are widely used today, and knowing how to use them correctly is important. The idea is for your child not to fall back on the excuse, "I don't need to know math—I've got a calculator." Let your child know that to use calculators correctly and most efficiently, she will need a strong grounding in math operations—otherwise, how will she know whether the answer she sees displayed is reasonable!
Schedule or reserve a few minutes each day for practicing math. The best way to better grades in math is through daily practice! Eliminate just one hour of video games or TV and instead enjoy the time doing some homework or reading with your children. You won't miss much - and the benefits will outlast the memory of any game or video.
Our children grow up so fast. Make your loved ones early years better
with the most valuable gift of
all - the gift of time! At least a few minutes each day. Those minutes
will be the best part of your day! Many
parenting experts will tell you - to a child, love is frequently
spelled "t-i-m-e". Time spent with our children and loved ones is
the best, and most memorable time of our lives and more
importantly - theirs!