Maths is a necessary school subject and compulsory in the UK until the end of GCSEs at the earliest. Not all children are fond of maths, but fortunately there are ways that parents can help maths seem more fun and generally support their child’s progress. I have teamed up with a senior school in Surrey to offer you some tips.
For younger children, there are lots of nursery rhymes that can help them with their counting skills in a fun and engaging way. Here are some examples you may have heard of:
- 10 Green Bottles
- 10 in a Bed
- One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
- 5 Little Speckled Frogs
- Once I Caught a Fish Alive
Board games are also great to help kids with counting and other basic numeracy skills. Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly, and Ticket to Ride are just a few examples.
For older children who are a little more advanced, you should encourage them to help you manage your money when shopping. Ask them to calculate how much you will need once you get to the till and how much change you should receive. Cooking/baking are also good options, because they involve weighing, measuring and even swapping between imperial and metric units.
Technology can also be a great for helping youngsters with maths, as there are various online games and apps they could play. Ask your child’s teachers for some age-appropriate suggestions if you’re struggling to find something suitable.
The idea is to help your child develop a positive attitude towards maths by making it more enjoyable and demonstrating how valuable it is in everyday life. Frustration is often a common problem when it comes to maths because it can be exasperating for them when they can’t seem to grasp a particular concept or reach the correct answers. With that said, it’s important to remind your child that everyone struggles sometimes and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
