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Simple Math Strategies Parents Can Use At Home For Their Child

Monday, March 19, 2018 by Alexis Bridges | Tips

 Math is a life long skill used daily in real life situations. Its purpose is to help us manage time, money, handle everyday situations that involve numbers and patterns in the world around us. It also enables us to make predictions, solve problems, make sound decisions and use technology like calculators and computers to help solve problems.

 

Some reasons why children may not understand basic math concepts:

  • Have trouble counting
  • Have trouble understanding that a number can be used to describe any group with that amount in 
  • Have difficulty recognizing and writing numbers
  • Skips numbers when counting, long after other kids the same age are able to count in order
  • Doesn’t tend to recognize patterns and may not be able to sort items by size, shape or color
  • Unable to mentally calculate basic addition and subtraction problems
  • Doesn’t understand the concept of common math terms such as “more than”, “less than”, “total,” “product,” or “split.”
  • Doesn’t make the connection between related math facts or “fact families,” such as 5 + 5 = 10, so 10 ‒ 5 = 5
  • Struggles to line numerals up neatly in columns when solving math problems
  • Has a hard time telling time
  • Has difficulty using math in real life such as budgeting or doubling a recipe to make it for more people
  • Has trouble understanding maps and charts

10 Ways Parents Can Help Their Child with Math at Home

  1. Have your child count down the time (weeks, days and/or hours) to a special day or holiday
  2. Have your child measure ingredients for a recipe you are making.
  3. Encourage your child to track or graph scores or stats for a favorite sports team.
  4. Ask your child to count the change at the grocery store, or to estimate the total cost while you are shopping. Or, with older kids, to help track the family budget.
  5. Explain what you’re doing whenever you use a measuring tape, a scale, or a ruler. Ask for your child’s help.
  6. Play games and do puzzles with your child that involve math.
  7. Count forwards and backward from different starting places. Use household items to practice adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
  8. Hunt for patterns around your house and your neighborhood such as patterns in clothing, in wallpaper, in tiles, on toys, and among trees and flowers in the park.
  9. Create a food chart to record the number of meats, fruits, and vegetables that your family eats each day.
  10. Have your child look through many children’s books and songs that repeat lines or passages in predictable ways, allowing children to recognize and predict the patterns.