5 Math at Home Tips Parents Can Use to Prep Their Kids For School

When you hear the word “math,” do you think it belongs on a list with “shark attack” and “root canal”?

Yes, math is consistently ranked the most disliked subject. But it doesn’t have to be. When it comes to preparing your kids for math in the classroom, there are lots of ways to help them become math lovers.

Don’t believe us? Keep reading. These five simple tips for learning math at home will show you how painless (and fun!) math can be for you and your kid.

1. Stay Positive

 We’ve all heard them (and maybe said them):

• “Math is hard.”
• “I can’t do it.”
• “I’m just not a math person.”

Math is a mentally rigorous subject. It challenges us all at times. However, passing on a negative attitude about math to your kids will only instill math anxiety.

No matter what math grade level your child is at, a positive attitude is a huge leg up.

Try saying something like, “It’s ok to struggle. The fun part is working through it and figuring it out.”

2. Make Math Real

Math isn’t just a problem on a textbook page. It’s all around us, all the time. Point out the math in everyday life, including:

• Counting how many places to set at dinner
• Adding up the cost of items when grocery shopping
• Dividing a pizza up (hello, delicious fractions!)

This hands-on approach to learning makes math fun and intuitive for kids. It’s similar to the teaching style of Montessori schools. If you’re ready to give your child an education like no other, check out The Montessori School of Downtown. 

When kids understand that math is real, they’ll feel more confident with it. Better yet, they’ll be ahead of their math grade level when they enter school.

3. See Exploration, Not Problems

The best words to increase your child’s math confidence and ability aren’t “You got it right!” 

Instead, they are: “What if …?”

Think about it. Is there a “right answer” when your child is playing make-believe or dress-up? No, because he or she is just exploring the world.

Math is a way to explore the world too. Ask your child questions like:

• What if you added another one?
• What if you cut that in half?
• What if every Barbie had three pairs of shoes — how many would that be?

Bonus: by taking teaching your child that it’s not all about getting the right answer, you’ll stop math anxiety before it starts. 

4. Integrate Math with their Interests

Another great math tip to prepare your child for school is to connect it to what they already love. If they love trucks, count the wheels on a semi. If they love animals, add up the number of big cats at the zoo.

5. Let Your Child be the Teacher

Teaching back is a wonderful strategy to help your child remember math theory. Even better, it gives their confidence in math a huge boost. 

Use this strategy at all math grade levels, especially when your child feels challenged. You’re guaranteed to learn a lot too!

Have Fun with Math at Home

Think that math at home can’t be a blast? Think again. 

With these five tips, you’ll be able to prepare your child for success in school. Better yet, you’ll set them up to love learning for a lifetime!

There’s so much more to learn. Keep clicking through our blog for more awesome parenting and teaching tips!