Have you ever heard your child ask you over a sheet of math homework, “When am I ever going to really use this?” You’re not alone!
It can be hard to convey to a young child exactly how important math is in the “real world” later on. Having a solid math base early on can help immensely in school later on, and as well as figuring out life’s big questions, like how geometry can help them build the neighbourhood’s best treehouse.
So, how can you get your child math help? Below are some steps to help your kids learn to love the subject.
Leave your anxiety and frustration elsewhere
Don’t bring your own personal anxiety about math to the homework table. There’s no need to remind your kids that you’re not a mathematician since they can then doubt the validity that you can help them.
Instead, start with a positive attitude, and help where you actually can.
Additionally, this is not the time to argue with your child. You’re the adult, so don’t say things like, “We just did this yesterday,” which can create even more of a barrier and frustrate both parties.
Nobody is learning when you bring anxiety or frustration to the table.
4 free math games your kids will love
Play games that have mathematical components, instead of just focusing on drilling through math problems on paper.
Prodigy – Online math games that are fun, adaptive and cover major math concepts for ages 5-14.
Rack-O – A fun board game for ages 8+ that provides math help in comparing and ordering numbers.
Khet – A chess-like board game for ages 8+ that helps with math concepts such as angles and multi-step problem solving.
Ice Cool – It is a great board game for ages 6+ to practice math concepts, such as geometry and counting, as well as fine motor skills.
If your child is young, the above simple math games are great for instilling an understanding of basic math concepts, while they can still have some fun!
Ask your child to explain a math concept
There’s no better way to fully learn a math concept than by teaching it to someone else. Have your child describe to you the concept they learned most recently, and ask questions for clarification.
As they describe how an idea functions, they’ll solidify that in their own mind as well, and when you ask questions, they’ll be forced to think about the problems and solutions, and how they got there.
This can automatically help with math proofs, which inevitably will come in handy when they are in high school and later in post-secondary education.
Common math homework questions for kids:
- There were some people on a train. 19 people get off the train at the first stop. 17 people get on the train. Now there are 63 on the train. How many people were on the train to begin with?
- Sarah has 2 bags with 2 marbles in each bag. Parker has 2 bags with 3 marbles in each bag. How many more marbles does Parker have?
- Becky completed ½ of an assignment at school. When she was home that evening, she completed ⅚ of another assignment. How many assignments did Becky complete?
- Miles went to the store with $5.25. You bought chewing gum for $1.15, a chocolate bar for $1.25 and a lollipop for $0.50. How much money does Miles have left?
- Maxwell wants to know how much jellybeans his container can hold. The container is 20 centimetres tall, 10 centimetres long and 10 centimetres wide. What is the container’s volume?
- Captain America’s circular shield has a diameter of 76.2 centimetres. What is the area of his shield?
Hire a tutor for math help
If the math is too advanced for you, or you simply are juggling a full-time job with being a full-time parent, consider hiring an online math tutor.
Tutors can work wonders in making a child learn and love any subject.
If you want to go this route, check out TutorOcean’s Online Math Tutors to choose among expert math tutors with reviews and listed prices.
Skip hiring the neighbor kid next door; just because some may be good at math does not make them a great teacher at it, which is why a live expert is a way to go. While you want the best for your children, sometimes investing in an expert is the way to make that happen.
Math homework help
Alternatively, if your child doesn’t require a tutor for extended help, rather, someone to help with questions in their homework. Did you know online tutors can help with that as well?
Our math tutors are accustomed to helping children get unstuck on their math homework. Simply submit a question, pay the tutor a few dollars and your child can get the help they need in order to hit that homework deadline!
Not only can tutors help your child get better grades, but they can also help them get ahead and excel in their courses.
TutorOcean
TutorOcean is a global marketplace where learners and tutors connect. Through its intuitive and integrated online classroom, tutors are able to cultivate the internal motivation and potential of learners, and thus help them achieve their goals. It's a place where the connection is made instantly, knowledge is shared and acquired in real-time, and community is created while breaking geographical boundaries.
