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Maths is one of the core subjects in UK schools as it is an essential life skill, allowing children to make sense of numbers, shapes, and patterns. Parents can help support their child’s arithmetic development by encouraging them to practise at home. Even if you lack confidence in your own maths skills, there are ways that you can incorporate maths into everyday life and aid your child’s progression. Here are some tips from an English summer school to get you started.
Have a Positive Attitude
If you’re trying to help your child progress in a particular subject, speaking negatively about it will not help. For instance, if you say things like “I hated maths as a child” or “I wasn’t very good at maths when I was your age”, you may pass on a pessimistic attitude to your child and their efforts will dwindle as a result. Instead, try and speak constructively about maths and how it benefits us each and every day. Use positive reinforcement to encourage your child to try their best at maths, even if it seems tough.
Play Board Games
There are lots of board games that involve numbers and calculations, some more complex than others. Snakes and Ladders, for example, involves counting and Monopoly requires players to add and subtract when paying or receiving money. These games will help your child develop arithmetic skills without them even realising that they are learning. It will help show them that maths is not only necessary outside of the classroom, but it can also be fun.
Put Up Posters
Visual learners in particular will benefit from having posters up with their times tables and other things they’re learning about, as it will help them remember going forward. As well as posters, there are plenty of educational books and revision guides that you could invest in to aid your child’s learning, as well as interactive games online that they could play.
These are just a few ideas and there are plenty more options when it comes to help your child with their maths. Younger children, for example, will benefit from nursery rhymes such as “10 Green Bottles”. Don’t be afraid to contact your child’s teachers for some additional support and suggestions.
