Maths is one of the first subjects that is taught while growing up, but it can be challenging for some children for various daunting reasons. The practical nature of math is simple and can be challenging at some level to understand and this article is here to share some insights that can help children overcome whatever challenge they may be facing with understanding math. These insights will help parents to help their children develop a love for math.
Wonder what makes Math tough for kids?
Math in general is hard!
The idea of trying to keep up with math can be a struggle which can lead to disengagement and anxiety.
Boredom
When the resources or the content is not challenging enough or the children are not able to grasp concepts quickly they tend to lose interest and get bored.
Anxiety by math
Not being able to understand, tests and grades usually almost always cause stress. This stress can result in an overwhelming or an unfocused feeling in children which lead to further anxiety and further hindering learning. It’s a cycle if it is not taken care of at an early age.
Monotonous teaching methods
Traditional, uninspiring teaching methods can be monotonous and fail to engage students. Without individualised instruction, students may not be able to understand and get the help they require.
Limited Relevance
Sometimes math lessons do not connect to real-world applications, which leads to questions about the value of math and gives students a reason to reduce their attention and interest.
How do we change from this to math being more fun?
Games
There are plenty of make-believe games to help increase and maintain the interest and attention of your children when it comes to maths! This will help kids retain and reinforce concepts in a playful way. This way it breaks from traditional learning methods while making math feel less intimidating and very refreshing.
Visual aids
Visual aids such as charts, diagrams and picture books, will help children who find math challenging to understand concepts better. The bright colours and engaging material are helpful in capturing and maintaining interest while making abstract ideas more concrete.
Provide Relevance
We already understand that without relevance it may be tough to understand concepts and using this relevance it is easier to get the understanding a child may need. How does something apply to daily life can be a very simple way of teaching and making math interesting, like in cooking, shopping, playing, etc. It can also be done by incorporating this in daily activities.
Reward System
With an incentive system, the child may be motivated and challenged. Using a chart board with stickers or a pointer system can be a positive reinforcement that can boost their confidence and encourage a positive attitude towards math.
Building Blocks
Building blocks are colourful and enjoyable, like LEGO sets, this will peak and maintain your child’s interest in concepts like geometry, patterns and symmetry. This is a hands-on method of learning and also extremely visually stimulating.
Digital Platforms
There are numerous platforms digitally that can help make math more fun and interactive. One of them is using your smartphone to its max by downloading an app for children. These educational apps are designed to make math more fun and extremely interactive. It makes learning more enjoyable and engaging.
Another way is using videos that are interesting and understandable. Platforms like YouTube or other any educational websites can be used to find videos that explain math concepts through different manners like stories, animations and creative activities.
Arts and Crafts
Incorporating art into math lessons makes them more colourful and fun. You can teach children challenging concepts of geometry or patterns using crafts. This approach is known to make math more appealing and help children, especially those who enjoy creative activities more.
Hands-On Activities
Increase your child’s engagement by allowing hands-on activities like measuring objects, creating graphs or conducting simple experiments. These activities can make math concepts that are abstract more tangible and understandable.
Get to know your child’s interest
Observe your child regularly, and understand them and their needs and interests. By doing this, you can incorporate their favourite activities into math which will help them enjoy math more! Tailoring math lessons to their interests can make their learning experience more enjoyable.
In conclusion, making math enjoyable for children, especially neurodiverse ones, requires creativity and engagement. By using games, visual aids, real-life applications, reward systems, and hands-on activities, parents can transform math from a daunting subject into a fun and interactive experience. Understanding your child’s interests and incorporating them into math lessons can further enhance their learning and foster a lifelong love for math.
Further Reads :
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/make-math-fun
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