Math is a difficult subject for many school-aged children. While some children excel in this subject, others struggle with the concepts of math and the relationships among numbers. Children often need help beyond the instruction they receive at school to master addition, multiplication and other math concepts. Some parents choose to hire tutors to help their children learn math; however, this can be expensive. You can use several techniques to help your child learn math without the expense of hiring a tutor.
Step 1
Use visual and tactile aids to help your child understand the basic concepts of math, advises the Education website. For example, when teaching your child basic multiplication concepts, gather a pile of blocks, buttons or other objects.To show that two times four equals eight, divide the objects into four groups of two, move the groups together and have your child count them.
Step 2
Use real-world applications to show your child the importance of math, advises the U.S. Department of Education. When in the grocery store, have your child count apples, oranges or other foods as you put them in your cart. At home, let your child hand you the number of eggs you need when baking a cake, and allow her to measure the ingredients.
Step 3
Place coins of several denominations on a table. Explain the value of each type of coin, and ask your child to find out how many different combinations of coins add up to a certain amount, advises the U.S. Department of Education website. For example, encourage your child to discover how many coin combinations equal 35 cents.
Step 4
Give your child a notepad and pencil when driving to school or running errands. Encourage your child to find numbers on buildings, license plates and signs, advises the U.S. Department of Education website. Ask your child to add the digits of a house number, such as 645.
Step 5
Use distance as a math tool when walking with your child. Ask your child to count the number of steps he takes between the front door and the end of the driveway, and from the driveway to the end of the street. Encourage him to add these groups steps to find out how many steps it would take to walk from the house to the end of the street.
Tips and Warnings
- Use items and situations your child is familiar with, whenever possible, to teach math concepts. Familiar objects and settings help your child connect math with her own experiences, making the concepts of math seem more relevant. Reward your child for math accomplishments. For example, if your child learns how to correctly count coins, you can give him some of the money to buy a treat, such as ice cream or a small toy.
Things You'll Need
- Blocks
- Grocery items
- Coins
- Notepad
- Pencil
