5 tips on teaching your kids to love maths
Why are so many people scared of numbers? Some even feel fear so intense that it qualifies as a phobia—numerophobia or arithmophobia. What we know is that these fears must be from experiences.
Teaching your children to be comfortable with numbers is important, not only for their performance at school, but it also opens up more opportunities to them when they reach the stage of deciding on a career path. How many people have you heard say “I would have pursued a career in X if I wasn’t so bad at maths�??
Here are some tips to help inspire your kids to love maths:
1. Be a good example
Your kids are more perceptive than you think. They can tell when you’re excited, and when you’re struggling with something. Parents can transfer their own anxiety about numbers to their children, so relax and try to show them that even though maths can be challenging, it is not to be feared. Parents who think of themselves as not good at maths can transfer that same anxiety to their children when they are helping them with homework.
2. Read maths study material to them
Reading maths study material to your children, even when they’re just toddlers helps them to start understanding numbers. You can use flashcards, books, number songs, and number stories. Doing this helps your kids become comfortable with numbers and to gain confidence in their maths skills.
3. Keep it fun
Contrary to what many people think, maths in itself isn’t boring. In fact, there’s so many ways for you to have fun with maths. For example using toys like Lego to teach them fractions or teach them origami to get them to love geometry. Even something as fun as eating a pizza can be used to teach your youngsters the fundamental concepts of maths.
4. Find out what your kids are learning about at school
Knowing the lessons your kids are currently busy with at school will enable you to plan activities that help your children develop the skills they need. The mere fact that you show interest in their school work will inspire them to work harder and learn more to make you proud.
5. Relate maths to real life
Kids are sometimes given the impression that math is useless, that they’d hardly need it in real life, when the truth is far from it. Point out the practical purposes of math and involve your kids as much as you can. Always be on the look-out for teaching opportunities every day. Maths is everywhere.
You might also want to read this article on the value of abacus maths.
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