Research shows that children with good numeracy skills are more likely to stay in education for longer, and consequently become employed in a well-paid position. With that said, it’s crucial for parents to get involved and help their children with maths as much as possible. Even if you feel you’re not very good at maths yourself, there are lots of things you can do to massively influence your child’s overall development. An independent school in Hertfordshire have put together the following advice.
Confidence is key. Children must have enough self-assurance to deal with different mathematical challenges. If they lack confidence, they will give up before they’ve even truly begun. Whenever your child attempts to complete a mathematical problem, parents should reward them for their efforts, even if they don’t get the right answer.
Lead by example. If you hated maths as a child, don’t let your child know. Children are great at picking up and remembering the things we say, so try not to pass on your dislike of maths to your child. Instead, try and motivate them by making maths seem fun! Things like easy math worksheets, games or videos can help make math fun for your kids.
Maths is everywhere. Everything you do with your child is an opportunity to learn and even practise maths. If you’re baking a cake together, for instance, you can ask them to make calculations regarding the recipe, such as how many grams of sugar they’ll need and what that would be in ounces.
Essentially, the best thing you can do to help your child with their mathematic abilities is to encourage them with support and praise. As long as they’re trying their best, they can’t do much more than that. Speak to your child’s teachers and see if you can get your hands on a basic outline of the school’s curriculum so that you can buy appropriate study guides if necessary.