mathematics at home

Mathematics

Confidence is essential in any learning, especially mathematics. Children need to experience success frequently to give them the confidence to extend their understandings and enjoy exploring mathematics. Your attitude will have a great influence on this and also on their attitude towards mathematical learning.

Much of the daily experience of children at home and during leisure activities involve them in using and developing numeracy skills. 

Physical and tactile materials are strongly encouraged at home as we believe mathematics should always be embedded in everyday learning.  Starting with numbers is usually not encouraged at the beginning as it is important that children see the physical materials in front of them and make the connection of numbers associated with counting orally first then the written form.

It is always important to encourage children to count things around their surroundings, making them special and meaningful where possible. For example, "Can you please count how many apples we have because I need to buy some more" or "I don't know how many slices of cake to cut, how many guests are at the party?"

Parents and other adults can assist children by sharing the mathematics they are using and encouraging children to talk about what they are doing and making mathematics a part of their daily lives, for example:

• Measuring and recording height and mass at regular intervals eg. the height of everyone in the family

• Weighing and measuring ingredients for cooking

• Ask your child to sort things into groups when you are cooking

• Counting at any opportunity 

• Songs and thymes about numbers and counting 

• Count backwards when timing activities or on the microwave

• Give them the money to pay at the shops where possible.

• Telling o'clock time on a clock and talking about how long it is until a particular events

• Using calendars to record school and home events and reminders

• Discussing things that happened tomorrow (identify what day that will be) or yesterday (identify the day)

• Encourage drawing when problem-solving

• Building using construction kits, models, household materials 

Games are a wonderful way of developing number and strategy skills as well as providing the opportunity for family fun:

• Board games (Monopoly, snakes and ladders, draughts ...).

• Card games (snap. concentration, Numero, UNO...), Dominoes.

• Strategy games (noughts and crosses, Connect 4, Backgammon, Chess, Battleships, Mastermind ...).

• Jigsaws (commercial or homemade including cut-up squares, triangles etc ....)

Giving positive appraisals for their efforts is encouraging as well important as it spurs them on to continue learning.

Below are some mathematical hints and tips for supporting your child at home from the Mathematical Association of Victoria.