logo-nationalheritageMath. It’s a simple and harmless word. Why then does it cause such dread for so many students? More importantly, since it’s such a critical tool in school and business, how can you as a parent get your child to embrace the subject?

The ideal solution is to help children build an interest for numbers before they enter school.  Here are some suggestions:

  •  Whether its reading books that include numbers or simply exploring numbers throughout their environment – at home, on traffic signs and billboards, or at gas stations and grocery stores – introducing young children to numbers will build a familiarity that will be helpful when it comes time to go to school. 
  • If you’re a parent of a school-age child who doesn’t like math, take a look at engaging your child in different forms of math.  For instance, if your child is a sports fan, use the score of a ballgame to work on addition and subtraction, or a player’s stats to work on statistics, multiplication and division. If your child likes to help you cook, use measuring out the ingredients as an avenue for building enjoyment in utilizing math skills.
  • Be positive.  For many parents, the thought of math may lead to horrible memories from when they were in school. Remember that math is our friend.  If you want your children to enjoy math, the last thing you should do is tell them that you hate math or exhibit negative feelings toward math. Take your child’s learning math as an opportunity to learn math all over again. You may find that you enjoy it as well.

For more information or for other helpful tips on making math more enjoyable for your child, do not hesitate to speak to your child’s teacher or visit www.familyeducation.com.