Essential Pointers for Assisting Your Child in Mathematics
It can collectively be agreed that school years are not easy, with many challenges arising from every corner. Along with some of the struggles such as settling into new classes and keeping up with learning the content, comes difficulty with certain subjects, with maths being a common one that students don’t particularly enjoy taking part in. We currently live in a world that is increasingly driven by technological advancements, making maths a subject that every student needs to develop a strong foundation in, in order to reach success. As a parent, you play a vital role in shaping your child’s attitude and ability when it comes to this subject. However, it is also important to understand that maths definitely comes with many challenges, which is where your guidance will come in. Whether your child is just starting their mathematical journey, or is facing more complex challenges along the way, you need to ensure that you are fostering a positive attitude and helping them utilise the latest resources that will help them grow mathematically. Below are some top tips from this boy’s school in Hertfordshire on helping your child with their maths.
A positive mindset
One of the most crucial aspects of helping your child with maths is, is fostering a positive attitude towards the subject. Unfortunately, once children develop a dislike towards a particular subject, they begin to develop brain fog or a mental block towards it, which can really have a negative impact in the long run. Along with this, if they ever get hints that you don’t think too positively about it, it can affect their perspective of it too and push them to develop similar feelings. If this is the case, try and emphasise the importance of maths in daily life, and highlight the various fields that it is relevant in. Engage in activities such as cooking or even playing games to give them a better insight. Explaining that everything to do with money has to do with maths may help too!
A supportive learning environment
The next thing to focus on is their learning environment. Think about it, if you were set to do the cooking in your lounge, or the laundry in your bedroom you would definitely lack a lot of motivation, given that your environment isn’t very encouraging. The same works for your child’s learning. Do your best to set up a supportive learning environment for your child as it is essential when it comes to their maths success. Designate a quiet and well-lit space when it comes to their study sessions that is free from all distractions. Ensure that they have all the necessary materials on hand as well such as notebooks, stationary, and textbooks. Encourage them to partake in regular study sessions to establish consistency, and help them become comfortable with maths as a regular part of their routine.
Break down concepts and practice
Maths can definitely become very overwhelming, especially when the concepts seem almost impossible to understand. Burnout is something many children experience when they attempt to tackle concepts all at once. Help them breakdown their lessons into smaller and more manageable chunks, whilst encouraging them to practice topics regularly. This approach will help them build a strong foundation and prevents the overwhelming accumulation that can lead to confusion. Don’t forget to encourage your child to ask as many questions as possible when they are stuck on something, and provide them with a clear explanation. To make it more interactive, you can also seek answers together online, reinforcing that even adults don’t always get it right the first time.
Helping your child with their maths doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By taking little steps here and there and ensuring they feel supported, you can ensure your child excels in this important subject once and for all.
