School life is great, full of endless opportunities to learn, explore and make friends that last for life. However, not all students view it this way, with the majority seeing school as something that is dull, boring and unenjoyable. There are a fair few factors that come into play when students choose to believe school isn’t the place to build on skills and reach success. It can range from strict rules, to homework and particular lessons. The majority of the time, it is usually subjects such as maths that can lead to students putting in less effort and developing brain fog. Maths is most definitely a subject that many struggle with at some point in their life, as it differs widely from the bulk of content taught at school. From all the numbers to equations that need to be calculated, many students find that they cannot wrap their head around a subject that appears to have no excitement surrounding it. Unfortunately, this mindset can be detrimental to a student’s future learning, as it means they will develop a mental block, and in some cases, anxiety towards a subject that is so vital to perfect in the academic curriculum. If you have noticed that your child is struggling with maths, continue reading for some advice from this boy’s school in London, on how to make maths more fun for your child.
Maths games and real-world applications
Incorporate maths games into your child’s routine to make learning more enjoyable. Board games such as monopoly or card games like Blackjack can involve maths skills such as counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication and strategic thinking. Online platforms are also readily available with educational apps offering a wide range of maths games designed specifically for children. In addition to this, be sure to connect maths concepts to real-life situations to make them more meaningful and relatable for your child. When they understand how much maths applies to daily situations, such as calculating the cost of the weekly shop or measuring ingredients whilst baking a sweet treat, they will begin to perceive maths as both a practical and relevant tool.
Maths in sports and art
Most children love the idea of outdoor activities and creativity, so why not combine them with maths to make things seem more appealing to your own. Use sports to engage your child in maths, by watching sports events together. During this time, you can ask them to calculate the scores, analyse statistics and estimate distance. This is a simple way to show them how maths plays a vital role in various areas of famous sports, which adds both excitement and practicality to their learning. Similarly, you can combine maths with creativity by incorporating art into different activities. Objects such as beads and blocks can be used to practice counting, sorting and problem solving. This creates a hands-on experience that enhances understanding of difficult mathematical concepts and makes it more enjoyable to learn overall.
Maths stories and activity books
When it comes to education and academic learning, there truly are tools in every form. Introduce your child to maths-themed stories and activity books that make leaning an enjoyable experience. There are many children’s books that have incorporated maths concepts seamlessly, with children reading through different narratives and completing activities without realising that they are strengthening their maths skills. By combining maths into fun concepts like this, you can also spark their imagination and curiosity at the same time, which is a necessity when it comes to learning.
By taking the time to incorporate the above strategies seamlessly into your child’s routine, you can easily make maths more enjoyable for your child. By instilling a love for this subject from an early age, you will essentially equip them with valuable skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.