One thing I remember clearly from my time at school (especially high school), was both of my parents telling me that if I had homework trouble, I’d have to find someone else to help me. Especially for math. Not because they didn’t want to help me, but because they knew they wouldn’t be able to. When I needed calculus help in college, I had to call my friend’s dad (also my dad’s friend) to come over and give me a crash course in whatever was giving me problems in that unit. I was lucky enough (nerdy enough?) to not need homework help often, and resources when I did need it. But, what about those kids who don’t like math, like I did? Or parents that also don’t like math? I’ve done some research (aka googling) and come up with some ideas of how to get kids to enjoy math more, and what to do if you are both in over your heads and need help.
First up, some ideas on how to make math more fun!
- Math games! There are so many games that involve math. Board games, card games, online games, you name it. Especially in today’s world, there’s an app for that. Find a game that reinforces a math concept, and your kiddo can unknowingly be learning while they play.
- Books with hidden math. My current favorite picture book is 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli. There is a lot of addition and subtraction woven into the story, but in a way that doesn’t actually seem like you are doing math. I love it. Find some books that weave math into the story.
- Find some real-world applications. I myself was known to say things like “when am I ever going to use this?” And, things like calculus have so far proven to not have been very useful. But, for elementary math, it is ALL used, like every day. So show some examples to prove that what your kiddo is learning will actually be very useful. Think things like getting change, figuring out how many toys they can buy with their birthday money, measuring ingredients for a recipe, etc.
Now, what about some ideas or resources if neither one of you likes or understands the math homework?
- Be positive. First and foremost, you want to keep your dislike for math to yourself. Just like when we pretend to love that one vegetable that we actually hate, don’t get kids to hate math before they even have a chance to decide for themselves.
- Talk to the teacher. Parent-Teacher conferences are a great time to discuss how your child is doing in math, and what kinds of things you can do to help. But, you don’t have to wait for the conferences, send an email whenever! They are with your kid every day and probably have a pretty good idea of how they best learn and can give some pointers.
- Try different approaches. People learn in different ways. What works best for your kid? Hands-on activities, visual aids, verbal explanations? Try several and see what works. Again, your child’s teacher may be able to help with which approach will be most effective.
- Use online resources. There are so many math websites, videos, YouTube pages, tutorials, etc. Do some searching to find something that explains what your child is struggling with. Just a change of perspective or method of delivery can make all the difference. Personally, I used Khan Academy a bit for some tough math concepts. It’s free and they have videos for every level of math.
- Connect with other parents. Join a Facebook group. I guarantee there are other parents currently going through exactly what you are, and others who have already gone through it. See what they recommend.
- Learn together! After using those online resources, or chatting with the teacher or other parents, work together to understand the material. It will be extra special to your kiddo if you are learning and working together. And, bonus for you, you now know a new math concept!
- Find a tutor. There are so many tutors out there. I actually tutored for a bit myself, just after college. I did in-person tutoring (back in the dark ages), but online tutoring is extremely popular right now. It is really convenient because no one has to leave their house, and you can listen in with your child.
No matter your relationship with math, it’s here to stay. If you want to help your child succeed, make sure you build that positive attitude toward math, stay involved, and provide help in whatever way you can. Hopefully, you’ve found some good resources and ideas from my list!