5 Ways to Make Math Fun

Kristin’s mini-mathematician.

When it comes to math and me, things just aren’t adding up (get it?). Thankfully, Kristin Gibson of the Center for Research in Math and Science Education gives Breezy Mama five excellent tips to divide (ahem) and conquer the fear when it comes to promoting your child’s math skills.

Most of us do an excellent job of supporting our children as they learn to read and write. We sing the alphabet song, read bedtime stories, and point out words on traffic signs and grocery labels. However, often parents do little math with their children. This is due, in part, to our own “mathphobia,” the fact that we ourselves may have had unpleasant experience with math as children. However, our children benefit from math experiences at home before (and after) they begin their formal schooling. Here are some ideas to help promote your child’s mathematical development and perhaps your own interest in math as well!

5. Find mathematical situations in everyday life.
Opportunities for children of all ages to use math abound in our daily routines. Have your child count out the silverware you’ll need for dinner or estimate how many ducks are swimming in the pond. When baking, ask your child how many gumdrops she will need if she wants each cupcake to have five gumdrops. Not only does this expose your child to math, but it showcases math as being relevant to real life and thus worth learning. Games are also a great tool for teaching math concepts. Simple board games that involve a die or a spinner can teach children to recognize numbers, count, and compare larger and smaller numbers. Card games such a Crazy Eights and War can do the same.

4. Be the “guide on the side” versus the “sage on the stage.”
Children are not empty vessels when it comes to math; they are acquiring early concepts from infancy without any direct instruction from us. Our job is to build on what they know, rather than try to “pour” our knowledge into them from the outside. Research shows we learn best when we are permitted to devise our own solutions to problems. Tempting as it is to rush in and help struggling children, give them time to devise and test their own strategy. And, realize that children don’t think exactly the same way about math as do adults, so it is perfectly fine for your child to solve a problem differently or less efficiently than you were taught to solve it. Allowing children to experiment in this way not only leads to strong concept development, but makes math fun and interesting. Note: When your child is solving problems, consider providing a variety of tools such as paper, crayons, and counting objects such as beans, and accept the use of finger counting.

3. Respond neutrally to correct and incorrect answers.
Similarly, do not be quick to tell your child her answer to a math problem is right or wrong. Children can become overly dependent on adult feedback to the point that they stop thinking for themselves. Instead, ask a question such as “How did you figure that out?” Why? Often a child has the correct answer for the wrong reason. Think about the following problem: You want to buy 2 toys, and each toy costs 2 dollars. How much money will you need? Your child might answer 4, and you might congratulate her and move on. But what if you knew he reached the answer of 4 because he simply added the two numbers he heard without thinking about the problem itself? What would happen, then, if there were 3 toys, or if each toy costs 3 dollars? And how would that compare to the child who mistakenly answers “5,” having drawn 2 toys and 2 dollar bills under each toy, but accidentally counted one of the dollar bills twice? You can learn much more about what your child knows and what he needs to learn by asking questions than you can from telling him what his answer should be. Besides, your child will love you taking an interest in his thinking!

2. Avoid “drill and kill.”
According to the Trends in International Math and Science Study, teaching in the United States tends to focus on rote memorization of facts and procedures (memorization of facts without an understanding of their meaning), whereas in other countries, such as Japan, teaching focuses on problem solving and reasoning. Interestingly, the study also revealed that 8th graders in Japan, as well as in thirteen other nations, significantly outperformed their US counterparts in math achievement. The truth is that there is a danger in rote teaching because it ignores whether or not the children understand the concepts and relationships between the facts and procedures they are memorizing. If children do not understand the concepts behind the math, it’s unlikely they will be able to apply what they know to new situations, an ability that will be necessary in a global economy based largely on innovations in science and technology. Yet go into any book or toy store and you will find a large selection of math flashcards and workbooks containing page after page of arithmetic problems. These “drill and kill” tools, however, are less effective than real-life story problems and math games, which focus on concepts and are simply more fun for both parent and child!

1. Model enthusiasm.
Many of us don’t like math. We find it boring or difficult, due largely to how we were taught as children. However, your child will need your support in this area of her life, as in every other. Do your best to show an interest and enthusiasm for math. Talk about the instances in which you use math in your own life. Play with math with your child, and you might grow to love it together!

About Kristen

Kristin Gibson is an educational consultant in San Diego, CA. She holds a teaching credential and a master’s degree in Educational Technology. After ten years as an elementary school teacher, Kristin now provides parent education and professional development for teachers. She also works as a lecturer at San Diego State University’s School of Teacher Education and as a co-researcher at the Center for Research in Math and Science Education. She has presented at a variety of regional and national conferences. Her professional goal is to help children, their teachers, and their families develop a love and deep understanding of math, and to promote equity in education. Please contact Kristin at gibsonkristin@hotmail.com with any comments or questions!

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