Did you know that around 10% of children have persistent difficulties with math as a subject? If your child falls in this category, then you might be wondering how you can help them with the subject. Likewise, if your child is advanced in math, and you want them to reach their full potential, consider RandomMath.com
This is especially true if you had trouble with the subject in school. That’s why we made this guide.
In it, we’ll briefly go over some ways to help your kids with math. That way, you can set them up for success in middle school, high school, and beyond. Let’s get started!
1. Avoid the Math Person Myth
If you were bad at math, then it might be tempting to tell your child that you also struggled with the subject. Avoid doing this! This perpetuates the myth that some people are born “math people” and others aren’t.
However, this simply isn’t true. What is true is that anxiety surrounding the subject can be passed down to those struggling with math. So, try your best not to do it.
2. Use Real-World Examples
When math is just numbers on a page, it can be too abstract for some kids. So, try applying it to a real-world example. Money and object counting is a great place to start.
For more advanced math, you can use traveling, cooking measurements, and similar everyday situations that require math. This can both make math fun and show its real-world value.
3. Hire a Tutor
Not everyone can be a math teacher. So, don’t be hard on yourself if it doesn’t come naturally to you as a parent. Instead, look for a good math tutor.
Try to find a professional one that’s able to explain math in a way that’s simple and easy to grasp. Older high school students might not fall in this category.
4. Use Visuals
If your child is a visual learner, then they can benefit from charts and resources that show numbers in patterns.
Just take a look at some of these fraction charts. For people that need to see visual patterns to learn, this type of poster is invaluable.
5. Know There Are Different Strategies
Many parents get mad when they learn that schools are teaching “new math”, or different strategies for multiplication. However, remember at the end of the day they’re still getting the same answer to the math problems as you.
They’re just using a different strategy to get there. If you want to teach them an alternative strategy, then you can. But make sure that they know it’s just another option.
Appreciate How to Help Your Kids with Math? Keep Exploring
We hope this article helped you learn some ways to help your kids with math. There’s no denying that math can be challenging for individuals. But often all it takes is a perspective change for the subject to really click.
So, keep at it with your child, and eventually you’ll notice a positive change. Did you learn something from this article? For more educational content, keep exploring our website.