**Collaborative post**
Maths is all around us; we use it when we’re cooking when we’re handling money and even sometimes when we’re playing board games. However, maths doesn’t come naturally to everyone and many children need a little extra helping hand. Many parents wonder how to help their children with school subjects that they’re not particularly great at themselves, but it’s actually not as difficult as it may seem. Here are some top tips from a junior school in the Cotswolds.
Of course, the younger you start to help your child with a particular area of their development, the more likely you are to be successful. Nursery rhymes like ‘Five Currant Buns’ or ‘The Animals Went in Two by Two’, amongst many others, are great for helping little ones with basic numeracy skills. Have a look online if you’re not sure about any counting songs – there are so many to choose from.
As your kids get bigger, the tasks that you engage them in will obviously start to become increasingly more challenging. Next time you go food shopping, as them to calculate how much the overall cost will be at the till and how much change you should receive if you pay with cash. When you’re cooking, ask them to help you measure the ingredients or calculate the oven times. The more they see that maths is a crucial aspect of everyday life, the more interested they will be in lessons.
You’ve probably heard people who are no good at maths say, “when will I even need to use this?” – you might have even said it yourself. Don’t let your child be one of these people! Be a good role model in general and even if you hated maths as a child, don’t let your child know. Instead, speak about maths and other school subjects in a positive light to try and encourage a growth mindset and a positive attitude to learning.
