There are several ways to enhance your child’s math education at home -- learning is not just for the classroom! Ask your child what they’re learning about in school and challenge them to think critically about everyday things. You can also have your child demonstrate their math skills to you.

 

One method is to simply to practice counting. Ask your child to count out how many plates are on the table when you’re out at a restaurant, or how many dogs they see when you’re out at the park. You could practice more critical thinking by being more specific: “How many blue cars do you see?” “How many people are wearing green shirts?”

 

If you are at home, you can ask your child how many socks they can see hanging out to dry or how many books they can count on the shelf.

For older children, it’s time to introduce subtraction into daily life: “If you put away five blocks, how many will be left?” “If you need to be in bed by 8:30 p.m., how much time do you have to brush your teeth and put on your pajamas?”

 

It’ also fun to practice math skills outside the home: “If we have 10 yuan, how many bottles of water can we buy?” “If we eat 3 of these dumplings, how many will be left?”

 

Remember, the best way to learn is to have fun. Incorporate math into games at home and enjoy yourself. If your child sees you like make, they’ll love it too!