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Enriching Your Child's Math Skills

You don't need a degree in math to help your child learn addition, subtraction, geometry and fractions. There are many activities around the home in which your child can apply what they learn in math class.

Here are things you can do to help your child in math:

Put your preschool child's counting ability to work. In preparation for meats, let the child count forks for the table, dinner napkins, pieces of cake, or other quantities.

Play a lot of numbers games. Games like bingo, dominoes, card games, etc. They can all familiarize your child with the world of numbers.

Use flash cards. If your child is having trouble with math, buy or make flash cards and use them on a regular basis. Children will enjoy giving answers they know and will learn more about complex problems through drill.

Give practical knowledge through usage in the home. Mention the size of containers, such as pints of cream and gallons of milk. Encourage them to help when you bake, lay carpet, or fertilize the lawn. Let your child measure the areas of quantities of materials.

Plan a shopping trip. And before the trip, have your child look through the newspaper to price the cost of items to be purchased. Encourage them to compare prices and quantities marked on containers to determine the best buys. Allow your child to purchase the item and figure out the change to be received.

Encourage analytical thinking. Since most of math includes problem solving, encourage your child to find solutions to various household problems. This will help him or her become an analytical and logical thinker.

Other ways to help your child apply their growing knowledge of math to practical situations

  • Let them double check the addition on grocery tapes.
  • Let them manage their own allowance.
  • Have them calculate age, weight and height dimensions.
  • Let them figure out gas purchases and mileage and other trip expenses.
  • Have your child explain the math papers brought home from school. Take time to help with corrections and understanding mistakes.