Top Tips for Helping Your Child with Maths

In the UK, maths is a compulsory subject until students reach the end of Year 11 when they complete their GCSEs. For this reason, parents should try and find ways to help their children practise maths at home to help them progress academically. There are lots of ways you can do so, as explored below by a senior school in London.

Practise Regularly

There are opportunities for your child to practise their numeracy skills every day if you’re willing to look for them. For example, you could ask them to help you prepare a meal once in a while so that they can learn about different units of measurement, like millilitres and litres, grams, ounces etc. Next time you’re out shopping or out for a meal, ask them to calculate how much money you’ll need to pay the bill. The more you encourage your child to practise maths in normal environments (i.e. outside of their classroom), the more natural it will become to them.

Play Mathematical Board Games

Believe it or not, board games can actually be really beneficial for a child in terms of developing skills. Some board games involve maths, such as Monopoly which requires basic sums, but even the ones that aren’t based around money or numbers will usually require your child to practise problem-solving which is an important skill in maths. 

Have a Positive Approach to Maths

Sometimes children who struggle with maths can find it frustrating when they are unable to find the correct answers. If you maintain a positive, optimistic approach, you will help them get through the slump when they’re feeling that way. Alternatively, if you say things like “I hated maths when I was your age too” your child will never move past their negative feelings towards the subject. 

Speak to the Teachers

If you require some extra support or would like to find out about some appropriate learning resources, get in touch with your child’s teachers. They will be able to suggest some books or online games that your child could use to help them with understanding certain concepts. 

This is a collaborative post.