Part of being a parent is helping kids understand basic principles that will help them succeed in school, including mathematics. While this can seem like a daunting task, using everyday objects, as well as tools like flash cards, can be an effective way to help your children learn the basic math skills they'll need to help them succeed in the future.
Use Everyday Objects and Situations
You can reinforce any number of math skills by using household objects to teach basic mathematical principles. You can even teach your child math during meal time. Set out a certain number---say five---of your child's favorite snack food, such as crackers, on your child's plate and have her count them. Teach her the word "subtract" or "minus" means to take away, and then take away two of the crackers. Have your child count the crackers again. Teach her that five minus two equals three. Look for opportunities all around you to teach these basic math skills. When you're out picking up another child from school, you can talk about addition. Have your child count the number of people in the car before picking up your other child, then again when he enters the car, for example.
Teach About Money
Money is not only an effective way to teach basic math, but it helps children understand more complicated principles like fractions. Lay out a series of coins on the table, such as a penny, nickel, dime and quarter. Talk about how much a penny is worth---1/100th of a dollar---and that one hundred pennies is the same thing as a dollar. Expand the lesson to the other coins, such as how five pennies equal one nickel, two nickels equal one dime, and so on. Write down an amount of money on a piece of paper, and help your child collect the proper coins in order to equal that amount.
Use Flash Cards
Some children are visual learners and may benefit by using flash cards. These can be of great benefit to parents who haven't studied their multiplication tables in several years, as well, as the answers are usually on the back of the flash card. Spend time regularly with your child using the flash cards to help him understand basic math principles and memorize things like addition, subtraction and multiplication. Flash cards are convenient because of their size, meaning you can take them anywhere and pull them out for a quick math practice session when the time is right.
