Last updated on December 2nd, 2023 at 07:45 pm
Math is an essential part of life. As an adult, you may not think about it much and you probably don’t do complex equations, but you will use it every day. In short, it’s a skill that your child needs to develop to help them gain success in life.
The good news is that you can help your child develop early math skills and they don’t need to be a math genius.
Get The Right Support
One of the most effective techniques to help your child learn math and other basic skills is to enrol them into local childcare. You’ll probably find several facilities near you, such as this reputable child care in Liverpool. Enrolling them allows them to prepare for school, gives you time to work or complete other necessary tasks, and it ensures they have a good start in math.
Of course, to ensure they develop early math skills you can supplement this.
Counting Things
The most basic math skill is counting and this can be encouraged by getting your child to recognize the difference in numbers and even calculate the difference.
This starts with just talking, explaining that if their sibling is having one biscuit and they are having none then one is more than none. You can then ask them to work out what the difference is.
There are plenty of things you do every day that involve counting, all you have to do is get your child to do the counting for you. It becomes a game and children love games.
Play Board games
Regardless of their age, there will be some board games they can play. This is great for basic math. Children will need to roll a die, be able to read the number, and then move a piece that many steps. It’s a great way to improve basic math and prepare them for more complex equations. You can even use two dice to make it more challenging.
Don’t forget, young children tend to have short attention spans, keep the games short and make sure everything finishes. At this age, it is much more important that everyone takes part as opposed to who wins and losses.
Math Game Online
Young people are growing up in a digital age. That means your child needs to be aware of digital technology. However, you are not going to want them to spend all their time on the screen. Instead, use computers to do simple math games. This introduces them to screen time and the potential of technology. But, because they are doing it with you, there is no risk of excess screen time or them seeing the wrong thing.
Be Spontaneous
If you take a moment to look you’ll find there are math examples almost everywhere in daily life. You can use these to make math spontaneous and more fun. It’s a great way to ensure your child is both interested in math and develops basic skills.