8 Ways To Excite Your Child About Learning Math

Math is often considered the least popular school subject. Numbers, formulas, and the like aren't exactly riveting for most people! The dullness that can accompany learning math is why many students try to stray away from it when they reach college-level courses – if they don't have to take math, they simply won't. 

The thing is that math doesn't have to be as boring as many students think it is. There is more to math than dull old calculation if you can implement some fun and exciting ways to teach it! There are a few secrets involved in getting your child to learn to love math – you just have to implement the right exercises in daily life. 

How do you promote children's numeracy? 
For many people, learning how to solve mathematical problems isn't easy. For those who don't see numbers and instantly figure things out, their numeracy can suffer. If your child isn't naturally good with numbers and finds the subject boring or difficult, it will be challenging to get them excited about it.

As difficult as it may be, there are ways you can promote numeracy in your child. They include: 

Using Math Everyday 
Mathematical problems are everywhere, not just in the classroom. When you can implement the teachings of math in everyday situations, your child will be more inclined to solve problems. For example, if you take your child to the grocery store, ask them to add up how much it would cost to buy three boxes of cookies. They will not only be excited at the prospect of cookies, but will also be happy to figure out the numbers when it involves something they love!

Leading By Example 
Since math is a pretty unpopular subject, it's safe to say that you or your partner may have also hated it in school. What you want to avoid is voicing that opinion to your child. Your children look up to you and tend to emulate you. If you say you hated math as a child, they may accept that as usual and just decide that they, too, hate math. If you want your child to get excited about math, you have to get do the same. 

Getting Familiar With Learning Standards 
It's not easy to remember the math problems you learned in the second grade. However, you want to familiarize yourself with what is expected of your child in their math studies. By knowing what they need to know, you can help them learn math through at-home activities.

Monitoring Math Homework 
You can watch your child's progress by keeping up to date on what they're learning and the homework they bring home. You will also be able to see how they are being taught. Does the teacher use fun math problems, or is it a series of numbers sprawled across the page that doesn't provide any excitement whatsoever?

You can't change how your child is taught at school, but you can implement different and more exciting ways to solve problems at home if their math homework is less than enticing. 

How do you get students interested in math? 
Getting students interested in math takes hard work, so you’ll have to be creative. You can get creative by: 

Use Real-World Examples 
Say your child is working on an addition problem – to keep things simple, let’s say the problem is 2+2. Simply staring at a page with the numbers and addition sign will not get your child interested in math – but that doesn't have to be how you teach them the problem at home.  

For example, you can try to make things more relevant and interesting by using objects around the home. To tackle a problem such as 2+2, you might take some of those cookies you bought to use for a math and snack session where you puzzle out the problems before eating the cookies as a reward.

Watch Movies 
Many movies out there use math as one of the main themes. Depending on your child's age, you can choose from a variety of different films. The film Gifted, as an example, is an excellent choice for a family movie night. It will entertain your child and show them a different side to learning math that might pique their interest. 

October Sky, another film that uses math throughout, is a great way to show your child what exciting things math can do. The film follows a group of high schoolers trying to create the perfect rocket. Any child who wants to be an astronaut might have their interest in math sparked by the film because they'll realize just how important it is to fulfilling their dreams. 

Other films you can watch with your children (depending on their age) include: 

• Good Will Hunting
• The Theory of Everything 
• A Beautiful Mind 
• 21
• Moneyball 
• X+Y
• Hidden Figures 

Just be sure to check the parental rating before starting any of the films – some on this list are better suited for older/high-school-aged children. 

How can I make teaching math more fun? 
Teaching math can be just as fun as learning math for some. That's why, to help your child succeed in math, you'll have to make it exciting for both of you. You can do this by: 

Playing Mathematical Games 
When you and your child are going through their homework or studying, it might help to take a little break to play a game that involves the use of math. Some of the best games to try with your child include: 

• Dominoes 
• Chess
• Cribbage
• Checkers
• Monopoly 
• Yahtzee
• Backgammon

These games all use math in one form or another, and they'll end up helping your child learn math without them even realizing it. 

Implementing Technology 
Most children love technology. If you incorporate it into math lessons, they may be more inclined to learn. For example, Minecraft is a highly popular game that many children play. What they may not know is that there are key math concepts throughout gameplay, such as: 

• Area and perimeter
• Patterns
• Ratios
• Coordinates
• Counting 
• Geometry 

If your child loves Minecraft, sit with them while they play and explain to them when they're using math, and watch them find a new love for the subject. 

Getting kids excited about math is often not an easy feat, but if you can manage to make it fun, your child will learn to love it!

 

Featured image by Jerry Wang on Unsplash