How many times have you heard “Maths is hard!”? Hands up if you were one of the people who used to dread maths class?
A lot of people are programmed to believe that mathematics is tough and intimidating. We even find ourselves unconsciously passing on this fear to our children when we say things like “We don’t know maths – take it to your Dad/Mum to help”.
Yes some people are naturally talented in that area but with the right approach, all children can learn to enjoy maths. Once a child learns the basics in a fun and memorable way, it is easier to master more complex concepts.
Here are some easy tips to help with this!
1.Make it a game!
Children love games so why not introduce mathematics to them via games? Once they have mastered the game, you can reinforce the lessons with traditional lessons.
It can be as simple as making a game of counting – “Let’s climb these stairs – how many are there?” Or for older children, playing maths related games like Times Table Swat, Tiny polka dot game etc. The competitive spirit and love of play will make the topics easier to follow and grasp.
The key is to keep it fun and attractive!
2. Encourage problem solving!
Mathematics is all about finding an answers to problems so why not encourage your child to think about issues? Fixing puzzles or putting the right shape into a shape sorter are simple ways of getting children to use their problem solving skills.
3. Make it real and relatable!
You can use manipulatives (solid objects) to teach and make the problem 3D to your little ones. Dividing 9 by 3 on a board or giving a child 9 cute dinosaurs to share between his 3 friends – which would you consider more memorable? Again – lessons can be reinforced with traditional methods later but the foundation has been set.
4. Introduce them to shapes and colours early! This is the very basis of geometry!
5. Introduce them to the world of sequencing! Sequencing is when one thing logically follows another and that is solving maths in a nutshell. It can be as easy as telling a story – Femi is stacking a lot of building blocks. he added too many so what happened next? They fell down! You can also use sequencing cards or resources to teach this concept in a more structured way.
Is it even possible to make maths fun and easy? Yes! Encourage a love of numbers and counting from an early age, use interesting resources and we will certainly do better with the next generation!