When it comes to learning, it is no secret that a majority of children dislike Math. Other subjects surely don’t face the same level of resistance, unlike Math. Whether they have difficulty with it or are just plain bored with the subject, we have all experienced the struggle of getting your kid to pay attention whenever Math is mentioned.
One of the reasons Math is unpopular among children is because they find it boring or repetitive. But if you can make it fun for children, they are more likely to be engaged and pay attention.
Math Can Be Fun
Children also tend to get bored pretty quickly therefore if an activity seems fun, it is more likely to catch their attention. That said, if they are shown that Math is used outside the classroom and can be fun, they can see its value and be more interested in it. Here are some of the ways to make mathematics fun for kids.
1. Hands-On Learning
If you want to make Math more fun for children, it is not recommended to limit their exposure to pencil-and-paper, classroom-type situations only. Doing this would make the subject repetitive and dull, and dullness is one of the reasons why children don’t like Math.
Instead, it would be better to point out how Math could be used outside the classroom. Take them outside to your local park and encourage them to count the number of trees they see, how many people have dogs for instance. It is a great way to emphasize that the value of the subject is not just confined to the four corners of the classroom.
2. Adjust To Their Skill Level
Let’s face it, not every kid learns the same. You have to accept that some children may require a little more patience when it comes to learning Math while some children are more advanced. That is why it is necessary to adjust to their level.
This is true particularly if your children are of different ages. It would be a great idea to make use of an online math curriculum to supplement their learning if they are struggling or a more advanced class, depending on their skill level.
3. Math Games
Kids learn better if there is some sort of playing involved. That said, they can understand Math more naturally if you use a game. This debunks the idea that the subject is boring. The games don’t have to be anything too complicated, you could use whatever items you have at home.
For instance, when explaining Mathematical concepts like addition and subtraction, you could use board games to get them to understand how it works when they lose a turn or count the number of steps they need to win the game.
4. Real-World Application
One way children can see the value of Math is if they can use it outside the classroom. For example, you could take your kids to the grocery store, give them an allowance, and ask them to buy whatever they want. It could be candy, their favourite snack, or even cereal.
If their chocolate bar costs 5 dollars and they have 15 dollars, ask them how many chocolate bars they could buy. You could also ask them to help calculate how much they could save if you have 20% off coupons over a 100-dollar total or ask them to count their change. That way, they could see how they would benefit from Math even outside the classroom.
5. Involve Food
Children are much more enthusiastic if the promise of food is involved. Invite them to try out a new recipe with you. This is a great way to integrate Math because they would have to measure the ingredients, especially for baking recipes. It is also a practical way to let them know about fractions.
Another way is to explain the subject concepts and problems using candy or chocolate. If they have seven candies and they gave one away, how many candies would they have left? It is easy for them to count because of the help of visual aid.
6. Save Money
If you’re already giving your children allowances, it is another way you could relate it to Math. Encourage them to save money by giving them situations like if they saved a dollar of their allowance, how much would they save in a year if their allowance is 5 dollars a week.
Not only does this let them apply Mathematical concepts, they get to save some money too. It is best to start them young so that they could also understand the importance of saving money. And they get to see their money grow.
7. Relate It To Their Interests
Kids could better understand Math if it is connected to the things they are already interested in. If your children love sports, you could teach them about their favourite sports team’s statistics. For example, if they’re a basketball fan, the shooting percentage of a certain player.
If they are into arts and crafts, let them calculate how much their supplies would cost. Or if they collect comic books, ask them how much they spend on their collection. Things like that are quite simple but it will show them that Math can be fun.
To Sum It Up
Math can be quite challenging to teach to kids. But given the right tools and methods, they could see how Math is used not just in the classroom but in everyday life.
Don’t just stick to traditional methods of educating your child because that would make them quickly lose interest in learning. Don’t be afraid to look at other learning tips if you need help with encouraging your child to learn.
Check out: 7 Amazing Educational Entertainment Tips to Help Your Kids Enjoy Learning
