When it comes to math, many kids struggle with making it fun. It’s not always easy as a parent to see your child struggling in this important subject. The best advice there is to help your child succeed in math is to make it as fun as possible.
Here are some of the best ways to make learning math a fun activity.
Incorporate Math Into Your Daily Activities
A great way to start is adding math into your daily activities. Whether it’s counting your socks as you put them on in the morning, or counting how many times you pass the toothbrush back and forth, math can be a fun way to spend your time together. If you look closely enough, math is a part of everything that we do. Whether it’s games, exercise, or even cooking, you can find ways to insert a little math if you look hard enough.
Encourage Your Child
One of the biggest reasons why many children shy away from math training is that they feel it comes with too much pressure. Their parents start drilling them to answer the questions correctly, and all of the fun is taken out of the problem solving aspect of math. Instead of forcing your child to give the correct answer, instead, use encouragement to motivate them. Get excited when they start getting an answer right, and they’ll be much more enthusiastic about participating. The point is to inspire them instead of bombard them— remember the difference.
Use Games
There are all sorts of math games out there that can make learning math not only fun, but much easier. Whether it’s video games, board games, or apps on your phone, try to find activities your child likes that are also educational. There are plenty of free games out there as well as paid ones. Sometimes it’s just a matter of trying several out and seeing what your child resonates with the best.
Reward Them
Dreaded report cards are often a part of math struggles. Kids who are having a hard time with math may hesitate showing their latest report card to their parents in fear that they’ll see they just aren’t catching on. Remember, reward is a big motivator. Seeing a light at the end of the tunnel can be a terrific way to encourage your child to work as hard as they can at their math. The better the reward system, the more motivated they’ll be to push themselves even harder with math.
Lead by Example
If you show children that you don’t like math, then chances are they’ll imitate the same behavior. Lead by example, and they’ll follow suit. The more they see you having fun with math, the more inclined they’ll be to do the same.
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