Mathematics or Maths for short, has been an item of absolute terror for students across generations. There’s no easy way to say this but Maths, you are more feared than you are loved. Before you read the above sentences and agree with us, remember that this is the fear that you can prevent your children from embodying and you could break the bad spell surrounding Maths. Want to know how? We have a list of five tips you can use!
1 . Lead the change you want to see –
If you have had a bad experience with Maths and you constantly narrate it to your children, then they start internalizing a fear for the subject. This is something that you may want to prevent. Granted that Maths may not have been easy for you but the goal is to make sure your child does not approach the subject with any preconceived fears. Maths anxiety is real and very catchy.
2. Know what they need to know and by when –
Each grade or level is assigned a specific set of math skills a child needs to know. For instance, kindergarten Maths will require number recognition and your child will need to know how to conceptualize numbers through examples; they should be able to count out five apples in a basket of ten. Knowing what they need to know is useful when you want to complement their school learning with activities at home.
3. Allow them to learn through conceptual experiences –
Maths is best learnt as a life skill and not a textbook concept. If your child is old enough to own a bank account, help them set up one. Additionally, you could ask them to keep track of their savings with the passbook and also teach them to calculate various things such as interest rates. This is a fun way to see Maths being used live in action! Also dispels the fear if they are rewarded for it through their savings account!
4. Board Games are fun when it comes to Maths –
There are plenty of fun board games that require the use of applied Mathematics for victory. Games like Monopoly are not just great family games but will also teach your kids to appreciate the finesse with which Maths is being used everywhere, especially for fun!
5. Avoid Tuitions for performance –
Tuitions the way we have experienced are the most detrimental experiences for students who want to learn Maths. We send students for tuitions in the country only in the event that they are doing very poorly at it. A child forced into tuition will believe that they are incompetent at that subject. Introduce tuitions as a concept to help them hone their skills instead of a method to discipline learning. It may be difficult to find a teacher who can help your student this way but till you do, avoid standardised tuition practices.
Maths is only as scary as it is made to be and we must treat it with confidence and respect. There is no point fretting about a subject like Maths that is highly misunderstood. So much of Maths is a learner’s paradise and it is time we demystify the subject for now and forever!
If you need help with that, get started with our app, Class Saathi: MCQ Revision App. It’s for students in Class 6–10, with 25K+ free practice questions!
