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Fun Ways to Introduce Math to Your
Children
Is this a familiar scene? You are
sitting at the kitchen table, helping your child with homework,
and struggling to help him memorize math facts and formulas.
Learning feels like a chore instead of a joy.
While 80 percent of traditional mathematics teaching relies on
drilling and memorization, it can also be boring, frustrating and
discouraging for children. Parents can help to make math fun and
approachable by linking it to real-world examples.
“Memorization of math facts and formulas is an important par of
math instruction,” explains Richard E. Bavaria, vice president of
education for Sylvan Learning Center, the nation’s leading
provider of tutoring services. “In order for children to really
understand even basic math facts, they must discover them in the
world around them.”
“Instill the joy of learning math with your child by using fun
games and activities to help them apply that they’ve learned,”
suggests Dr. Bavaria. The following are some examples recommended
by Sylvan Learning Center:
Play popular board games that require basic math skills. Chutes
and Ladders® and RackO® develop number sense. “24” and Yahtzee®
help computation speed and accuracy, and problem solving skills
are developed through games like TriOminos® and Connect Four®.
A deck of cards can be a valuable math tool. Card games begin to
teach the lesson of probability. Using a deck of cards is also a
great way to reinforce addition and subtraction memorization for
children learning basic math facts.
Relate math to your child’s favorite sport. Ask them to calculate
the number of points needed for their favorite team to win.
Encourage them to create multiple point combinations to reach that
score.
Use driving time as math game time. Invite children to figure out
how long it will take to get to the destination or estimate how
much it will cost to fill up the gas tank.
Dominoes are a great game for children of all ages. Smaller
children can use them to organize similar quantities, while older
children can explore the concepts of probability.
Sylvan Learning Center publishes a “Seven Days of Activities for
Family Learning Fun,” which provides other suggestions for
enjoyable educational programs and activities for parents and
children. For more information visit
www.educate.com/familyfun or call 1-800-31-SUCCESS
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