When it comes to learning and academics, most parents agree that mathematics is one area that they found most troubling.
Whenever someone speaks to them about mathematics, they tend to get faint memories (or nightmares) about how anxious they would get before an examination.
Most educationists agree that mathematics is all about understanding concepts and applications. This is why some students find it easier than others.
Understanding mathematics and being good at it is something that your child can easily pick up.
When as adults, we try to reminisce what went wrong when we were at school and mathematics was involved, we can mostly narrow it down to the following:
- Our parents were unable to evoke a strong interest in mathematics as they were able to do in some other subjects.
- The teachers could not help address our elementary concerns and problems that we might have had back in the day.
- There was an absence of interactive and engaging ed-tech platforms that could help us make mathematics fun and easy.
In this article, we are going to help all those parents who want their kids to do exceptionally well in subjects like mathematics.
Mathematics and Children: Is There an Approach That is Universal?
The first and probably the most important thing that you should know about children is that they are not alike. While some are great at following instructions, others are gifted with their own creativity and thought processes.
Just like no two kids have the same preferences in terms of food, clothing, or vacation spots, so do their interests in academics can vary.
As parents, we need to understand the following when it comes to invoking our children’s interests in mathematics:
- Mathematics can be presented in a more fun, relaxed and exciting manner than be thought of as something which is difficult.
- There are tons of opportunities in mathematics for storytelling and creativity which parents and teachers can harp on.
- Parents need to show and demonstrate an interest in mathematics for kids to pick it up in the first place.
Never ever believe that simply because both of you (mother and father) were not good at maths, the child will also follow suit. This is a false assumption that can automatically deter interest in the subject.
While some children may naturally show an inclination towards mathematics, others that do not show the same can always learn in the best manner possible.
Parents can look to enroll their children in the best math summer camp to grow their interest in the subject.
5 Proven Ways to Help Children Develop an Interest in Mathematics
In this section, we are going to list down five credible ways that can help children develop an interest in mathematics:
1. Use Mathematics and Connect it to Other Interests
Every child has a specific area of interest from the time they are young. While some find interest in cooking, others like colors, animals, or even flags.
As a parent, you can attach their interest area creatively with mathematics.
There are so many ways of encouraging counting, pointing out symmetries, as well as helping them solve problems around mathematics.
2. Show Real and Authentic Interests in Their Thinking and Academic Behavior
If you want your kids to do well in academics or in any other subject, you need to be interested in their thinking, progress, and outcomes.
Make sure to solve problems with them, as well as know about the subject matter.
If you are able to do it, your child will be motivated to follow suit and get it done themselves. Applaud their efforts and encourage them at every step.
3. Have Different Approaches When Invoking an Interest in Mathematics
Children are always interested in exploring different options of arriving at the same place. When you try to limit their approaches, they tend to lose interest.
A good way of doing that would be to show how problems in mathematics can be approached from different areas.
This will help give a shot in the arm to their creativity and allow for critical thinking to flourish.
4. Take Help From Online Learning Platforms That Make Mathematics Fun
We understand that parents might be preoccupied with their own jobs, businesses as well as household engagements and responsibilities.
In recent years, credible online ed-tech platforms for young children have come up.
They help in creating a fun, eventful, engaging, and exciting interactive environment and place mathematics in it. Children pick up maths skills easily.
5. Exercise Patience and Don’t Force Your Child To Do Something That They Do Not Like
While you may think that a certain approach works best in terms of picking an interest in mathematics, for the child the same may not be true.
They might end up engaging with some other approach that you might have never imagined will be appealing.
Exercising patience is critical. Every kid learns and progresses at a pace that is most comfortable to them alone.
The Bottom Line
Think about the kind of attention you give when it comes to reading, writing, and speaking skills. It becomes an all-day, everyday kind of activity.
Now ask yourself, do you do the same when it comes to mathematics?
Your answer is probably not. Picking up interest in mathematics is all about giving your child confidence, encouragement, and practice.
By following all the points mentioned in the article, you will be able to help your child develop an interest in mathematics.
If you have any other questions or want us to clear any of your doubts on the topic, please write to us in the comments section below. We would be more than happy to help you as much as possible.