5 Tips That Will Help Get Your Child Excited about Math

Encouraging kids to read, write, and speak outside of school is easy and natural, but most of us probably don’t spend enough time encouraging kids to practice math skills. Math concepts don't have to be stressful or boring. It can actually be a lot of fun!

So, how can you help your children develop a love of mathematics outside of school and math homework? Here are 5 ways:

1. Practice Math Outside of the Classroom

There are plenty of ways to practice math outside of the school day. Teachable moments exist all around us every day. Once you start to look for all of the ways math is present in our daily lives, you’ll begin noticing it everywhere! Kids can practice fractions by helping you measure ingredients for a recipe. Next time you go shopping with your child, give them a budget and ask them to pick out some items without going over the budget. These hands-on experiences can make mathematical concepts seem less daunting for kids while helping with memory retention!

2. Play Fun Math Games

Games are a fun way to get your child excited about math problems. There are games available for every age group so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding one your child wants to play over and over again. Rummikub, Dominoes, Yahtzee, Chess, Checkers, Monopoly, and Sequence are some all-time favorites. You can also access math games online for free from PBS Kids.

3. Try Hands-on Projects

Hands-on projects encourage children to learn through experimentation and learn from their mistakes. A hands-on project will engage your child’s senses and let them connect to new ideas through physical participation. You can set up simple yet effective hands-on projects using materials you have at home, or you can explore some innovative maker kits. Maker kits are a great way to get your child excited about what they can do with STEM skills.

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Sundial Maker Kit

Learn to tell time with only the sun with this working and beautiful equatorial sundial.

Terrarium maker kit

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Phone Maker Kit

A new way to play with an old friend. The phone maker kit provides a unique experience to the child that can’t get away from her phone! 📱 🔨

4. Use Pictures and Colors

Math practice doesn’t have to be black and white. Make it as colorful and exciting as possible by incorporating colors and pictures. Strategically used colors and pictures can help with pattern recognition and attention to detail. Color by number worksheets are great for young learners and help build number recognition skills in a stress-free way. Use pictures of your child’s favorite animals to get them excited to practice math. Ask them to count the different aspects of the pictures, for example:

How many animals in the picture have 4 legs?
How many different types of animals are in the picture?
How many brown animals are there?
How many ears are in the picture?

5. Motivate with Fun Prizes and Praise

Practicing math can be stressful at times, even when you try your best to make it a fun experience. Be sure to give lots of praise while your child is learning math and reward them with exciting prizes. A trip to the zoo, a new game, or a movie night are some fun rewards you can use to motivate your child to practice math.

Final Thoughts

Some kids are born knowing that they love math. But just because your child doesn’t seem interested in math yet doesn’t mean they can’t develop strong math skills and appreciate the ways we use math every day. By making the learning process fun and supporting kids along the way, we can inspire the next generation of mathematicians!