Help Your Child with Math
How quickly can you calculate simple mathematic problems? Can you do mental arithmetic easily, for example, could you calculate the interest you pay on your home in your head? Do you love mathematics? If you feel positive about Math does this help your child at home? Children can learn to love mathematics.
You can use all the resources in your home to foster a love of math in your child. You don’t need special teaching materials. Thermometers, scales, tape measures and a host of other devices will help you with home mathematics.
What a gift to be able to do mental arithmetic easily and accurately. This gift can be used dozens of times every day to calculate mathematical problems. Math can happen at home just as well as it can happen at school.
Every day we are calculating. Just think about it. From the moment your alarm goes you are estimating the time required to complete breakfast and get to work. You check the thermometer to see how cold or hot it is. When you run your microwave you decide how many seconds and minutes you should use. You check your wallet or purse to see how much money you have for the day.
There is a body of evidence that suggests that many children are unable to estimate a reasonable answer. With the growing use of calculators and computers, children are losing the capacity to decide what a reasonable answer is. They need to be able to calculate for themselves so they don’t over rely on electronic equipment.
It doesn’t matter how many calculators or computers you have, a child has to be able to think mathematically. They need to have a clear idea of the operation to be used to solve the problem. They need to be able to roughly calculate a reasonable answer. They need to be in control of the mathematical operation not the calculator.
You can have a wonderful time with your children if you think creatively about using math at home. There are dozens of possibilities for you to play number games with your child. You have to have the willingness, enthusiasm and creativity to use everyday mathematics in the home to fashion challenging and exciting number games.
It’s really easy. You’ll be amazed at how you will come up with great ideas and activities. Play counting games, recite number rhymes, cook, shop, and look for shapes in your home; the activities depend on the age of your child. Read and create timetables, use tallies to find out how many cars pass your house, count the letters you get, add the numbers in the zip codes.
Long car trips can be very boring and frustrating. Try to think of all the number games you can play as you drive along. Use the registration plates of the cars in front of you to play number games. Count the number of red cars. Compare the difference between cars and SUVs that you pass. Calculate the mileage and check it against the car’s computer. There are endless ways to play number games on a long trip.
As parents we want our children to do well at school. We can help by making learning exciting at home. We should encourage and praise our children when they create exciting math problems and produce interesting results. We can turn our house into a happy and productive learning environment. You’ll be amazed at how much your children grow to love learning with you if you do math at home with excitement and creativity.