AD| Top Tips for Helping Your Child with Maths

It could seem as though some children just have a brain for numbers and all though there will always be those who excel, with a little encouragement it is possible for anyone to improve their maths skills within their ability. Maths is a cumulative subject, building gradually on pre-existing knowledge, a little patience and practice can go a long way. You don’t need to be a mathematician yourself to help, with these top tips from an independent school in Surrey, you too can help lay a solid foundation for your child to build their maths skills. 

When children struggle with a particular subject, they tend to shy away from it or avoid it altogether. For some parents, getting their child to sit down to do maths exercises may be a battle they are destined to lose. Instead, try and incorporate maths into daily life and get kids engaged with maths without them even realising they’re doing it. Count the red cars you see on an outing or get your child to help you cook dinner, weighing out the ingredients to the correct number on the scale. Familiarity counting and recognising numbers is a good starting point to develop further skills. 

You could also use games that use maths skills; bringing an element of fun to the topic might diminish any negative connotations your child has towards maths. Play Dominoes and Uno to practice pattern recognition, or Monopoly to exercise counting, addition and subtraction. You could draw a multiplication hopscotch with chalk, templates for which can be found online. Any game that incorporates any type of math skill will begin to build their confidence dealing with numbers and start to positively impact their attitude towards maths. 

As with anything, confidence plays a huge role in how children approach maths. If a child thinks they’re bad at something they’re inclined to stop trying due to frustration or the fear of negative feedback. It is important to allow your child to work within their ability, mastering the basics before moving onto anything more advanced. If your child is struggling it is crucial to praise them on their effort, not only their performance. The more supported and confident they feel, the more likely they are to apply themselves. Above all, be patient and try not to get frustrated, the most important help you can give is unwavering support.