If you’ve ever wondered and asked yourself, “How to help my child with math at home?”, you’ve probably been faced with countless tips online.
Some of them may work, but some are just extremely difficult. As a result, it becomes challenging not just for the kid but also for the parents.
Don’t worry. We’ve done our research. We compiled some of the simplest and most efficient ways parents can help their child grapple with numbers and math concepts.
How to Help My Child With Math at Home
Parenthood is already challenging all on its own, but being a parent trying to help their kid with mathematical concepts? That’s a new level of parenthood.
You don’t have to feel lost. Here are some tips on how you can help your kid understand math without too much pressure:
1. Practice Positive Affirmation
One value that’s absent in countless families around the globe is positive affirmation. It’s not just with mathematics but also with the child’s personal life.
We want you to make it a habit to affirm you and your child, especially with mathematics. Avoid saying, “You’re bad at math, and I am too.”
Doing so creates a wall between the child and the lesson in front of them. The child thinks, “If my parents can’t understand it, then I’m hopeless.”
Contrary to popular belief, there’s no such thing as “not being a math person.” You weren’t born never to understand math, and so was your kid.
Avoid instilling in your kid that math just isn’t for some people. Math is comprehensible when a person takes the time, be it a kid or an adult.
Of course, avoiding negative messages doesn’t magically make you good at math. However, you can say things like, “Yes, this is difficult, and it’s difficult for me too.”
You then follow it with, “But if we work on it together and make an effort, we can understand it.”
By affirming your child that hard work pays off, they will realize that everything is possible, including answering math equations. Just be sure to really follow through and be dedicated to learning math with your kid.
2. Talk About It Regularly
One of the most important aspects of understanding math is turning these abstract concepts into something tangible.
When you make the distinction that numbers can be and are real objects, they become easier for your kid to understand.
That’s why parents should also be encouraged to talk about math regularly. No, we’re not saying the Pythagorean theorem should be their bedtime story.
You can do this in the simplest way possible. Count the clouds with your child. Ask them how tall they think a building is. How many cars are parked on the street?
These things teach your child that the numbers they see on a sheet of paper are things they see in real life.
You can also ask them questions related to what you’re currently doing.
- How many candies do you have?
- How many would you still have if you gave me two of them?
- How many would each of us have if we split them in half?
You have to take these extra measures to make them feel more comfortable when dealing with numbers.
On the other hand, you can also look for other ways for your kid to incorporate numbers and math in their activities.
For instance, if your kid likes to be on the phone, encourage them to watch educational videos that feature math concepts.
You can also use different visual aids like posters and hang them on the walls of your kid’s study area.
3. Let Them Explore
Here’s one thing you should always keep in mind: children learn best when they’re interested in what they’re doing.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the reality when they go to school. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Schools simply have a set of standards and a lesson plan they must follow throughout the academic year.
However, this could mean that there might be some parts of the lesson that your kid is curious about but was unable to explore further.
When you’re teaching your kid at home, try not to worry too much about what might appear on the tests and what may not.
Instead, give your kid the opportunity to explore mathematical concepts that interest them, regardless of how easy or difficult they are for you.
The good thing about mathematics is that some concepts are related to other concepts.
If your kid chooses to learn about a different subject, they might learn concepts that will be useful in future lessons.
Ergo, avoid responding with “This is too difficult.”, “This is irrelevant.”, or “You should have learned this by now.”
Try to approach the questions like a teacher, someone who cares about imparting knowledge to your child.
4. Let Your Kid Teach You
Did you know that one of the best methods to learn something is to teach it? Even with something you’re familiar with and an expert at, you will find that there’s still much to learn.
That’s because when you have to teach it, you need to identify new strategies on how to explain it in simpler terms.
This could be a great opportunity for your kid to see a mathematical concept from a different perspective.
If you want your kid to master a concept or seems to be struggling with one, tell them you’re struggling with it too.
Then, encourage your child to figure out how they will explain the concept to you like they’re the teacher.
Even if they explain it to you in disarray, just the method of approaching it differently can spark new insights in them and let them get a better grip on the lesson.
5. Abandon Drills
As a student, you’ve probably faced the tumultuous task of having to answer math drills as quickly as possible. These drills can indeed be helpful.
However, this should not be the only method to master math. In fact, the mere concept of having to face various equations and answer them rapidly can cause disinterest in some people.
As a result, your child will grow warier in math and may not even be encouraged to study it while they are at home.
Fast arithmetic is but a single component of the multifaceted concept that is mathematics. As we’ve mentioned earlier, children learn best when they’re interested.
Ergo, we discourage you from using math drills and instead switch to interesting activities like games and watching educational videos to learn math concepts.
It’s true that some projects and activities take time and effort to prepare. However, they discard the idea that math isn’t fun.
Worksheets aren’t the way to go. Count music beats, find math in dance steps, and solve puzzles with math equations.
These are just some of the ways that your child can develop an interest in an active and playful math experience.
6. Follow a Slow and Steady Pace
As the adage goes, slow and steady wins the race. You want your kid’s lesson at home to be just a follow-up, not another grueling period your child has to endure.
Thus, allow your child to take a break when you think they are feeling the pressure. You need to remember that everyone has their own pace when dealing with mathematics.
This applies to you as well. Make sure that you also get some rest because teaching while exhausted can make you feel irritated.
Additionally, don’t hesitate to ask for help. If someone you know is good at math, or if you have friends or relatives who are teachers, consider calling them over the phone for assistance.
Being good at math is not a race.
Let your child have fun while learning numbers and all the mathematical concepts out there. That’s the best way to keep them engaged in the long run.
7. Consider Math Websites
There are countless educational websites you will find online nowadays, and a handful of them is primarily concerned with teaching math concepts to children.
The ultimate goal is for your kid to learn, which means you shouldn’t carry the entire responsibility on your shoulders.
Make good use of the online world and research these websites. They offer lots of free and paid materials to improve your child’s math skills.
Some also offer videos and games that your child can access online with their computer. Nonetheless, parental support and guidance should still be present when teaching math to your kid at home.
Teaching Math at Home the Fun and Effective Way
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How to help my child with math at home?”, we want you to know that you’re not alone.
However, it doesn’t mean you can’t teach it at home. In fact, you don’t need a degree in mathematics to support your kid along this journey. All you need is dedication and, of course, a helping hand. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll soon find yourself enjoying being your kid’s math teacher.