Math is a subject either you love or hate, there is simply no middle ground. Many kids feel frustrated with math but, we assure you there are ways to turn things around. If your child is struggling with math, you may consider introducing them to activities that will challenge their minds and change their perception of this subject. Here are 3 simple strategies that can help your child not just excel but also look forward to learning math with confidence and enthusiasm.
Challenge Young Minds with The Right Math Textbooks
“Knowledge is power,” said Francis Bacon. This simple, yet incredibly profound quote reminds us of the importance of staying committed to lifelong learning, self-improvement and growth. Every discipline, including math, can be challenging and frustrating until you acquire the knowledge and start approaching the same struggles with a determined mindset. When it comes to math, the right tools and resources play a crucial role in setting up the foundation for mastering this challenging subject.
This is why investing in the right math textbooks for your child is not just a necessary tool but a vital crutch they will need to build confidence, develop critical problem-solving skills, and navigate the complexities of this challenging subject. But how do you choose the right ones that will truly challenge and inspire young minds to understand math better and enjoy the process of learning?
To find the right math resources, look for textbooks that contain well-structured units, and practical exercises. For example, you may opt for a Singapore math textbook that contains clear explanations and detailed step-by-step solutions to a variety of concepts suitable for pre-schoolers, primary, and secondary students.
This type of textbook and workbooks can be found under the names “101 Must-Know Challenging Maths Word Problems”, “ Learning Math” or “Maths Problem-Solving Strategies”, each offering a unique perspective and covering respective topics critical to developing creative and problem-solving skills. They are all designed in accordance with the Singapore mathematics syllabus, which is why they are mostly used in schools that follow their curriculum.
For example, “101 Must-Know Challenging Maths Word Problems” is a Singapore math textbook that features carefully crafted word problems designed to test key concepts. This book can help both primary 3 and 4 students learn how to confidently apply general mathematical strategies and problem-solving techniques and gain a deeper understanding of this subject. These resources are mostly used among kids in Singapore, yet, they are also very popular across many other regions in Australia and other countries.
They are usually sourced from leading educational publishers that supply specialised stores with high-quality Singapore math textbooks suitable for students of various levels. This allows teachers, educators, and parents who homeschool their kids to have access to top-notch learning resources and empower young minds to build a strong mathematical foundation.
Yet, choosing the right textbooks, isnt the only important strategy you should consider to boost your child's confidence in math and help them realise their full potential. You might as well consider integrating math into your child’s everyday life by introducing them to a variety of activities that challenge their minds and spark their curiosity.
Integrate Math into Your Child’s Everyday Life
When exploring various activities you can introduce your child to, consider incorporating games, puzzles, or even simple tasks like shopping and cooking that can help them fall in love with learning math in a fun and engaging way. Each of these activities will allow your child to gain a practical understanding of simple mathematical concepts like learning how to think logically or practise simple concepts like addition, subtraction and multiplication.
For example, by measuring the ingredients during cooking, you can teach your kid to practise fractions, while shopping can help them learn basic operations like counting, addition and subtraction. While these are mostly suitable for preschoolers, there are many other engaging activities you can integrate into your child's daily routine to further strengthen their math skills. These may include encouraging them to solve puzzles on their own or play games that involve strategic thinking, such as chess or Monopoly to help them develop critical problem-solving skills.
These simple, yet useful activities will allow your kid to realise that math is everywhere around us and its relevance in everyday life situations. As the famous Italian philosopher, physicist and mathematician Galileo Galilei said:” The laws of Nature are written in the language of mathematics ... the symbols are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures, without whose help it is impossible to comprehend a single word.”
Encourage Them to Stay Curious and Ask Questions
Introducing your kid to a variety of engaging activities can certainly help them tap into their undeveloped math potential, but have you ever wondered why using questions to stimulate mathematical thinking is such an effective learning strategy? Encouraging your child to stay curious and ask questions will allow them to explore both simple and more complex math concepts and discover new and useful methods when approaching problems.
This is why questions like “Why” or “How” are invaluable and the most powerful tools that can help your kid unlock their full potential. Besides, asking questions activates the brain’s ability to think logically and grow new neural pathways. This will allow your child to gain confidence in their abilities and build a deeper understanding of this subject by simply staying inquisitive and committed to lifelong learning.