Encourage A Growth Mindset and Focus on The Learning Process
When it comes to Maths, it's important to encourage your child to adopt a growth mindset. Emphasise that mistakes are an important part of the learning journey and encourage your child to view challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement. Let your child know that effort and perseverance are key to success in Maths and that it's normal to need some time and practice to fully understand a concept. By fostering a positive attitude towards Maths and helping your child see the value in their efforts, you'll support their progress and success.
Celebrate Successes
Give your child encouragement, praise for their hard work and take notice of their progress in problem-solving and engagement in the learning process. By doing this, you're emphasising the importance of effort and helping to build your child's confidence and self-esteem. Your positive feedback will also motivate them to continue working hard and growing in their mathematical abilities.
Model Mathematical Learning
As a parent, you can play an important role in helping your child develop strong problem-solving skills in Maths. By modelling the problem-solving process for them, you can show them how to approach and solve problems in a methodical and effective way. Share your thought process with your child and encourage them to think critically and find their own solution. Seeing you solve problems in a step-by-step manner can help your child develop their own problem-solving skills and gain an understanding of how to think mathematically.
Use Manipulatives
Using Maths manipulatives, such as blocks and counters, and other physical tools such beans, coins, or marbles, helps your child grasp mathematical concepts by providing a hands-on, visual representation. By providing a hands-on approach to problem-solving, these tools can help simplify abstract ideas and promote a deeper understanding of mathematical principles. Additionally, using manipulatives can also improve your child's visuospatial skills, as it allows them to interact with objects in a tangible way, promoting mental visualisation and spatial reasoning abilities.
Use Real-Life Examples
One of the most effective ways to help children grasp Maths is by linking it to real-life scenarios. Incorporate Maths into daily routines, such as cleaning and mealtime, as these offer chances to talk about counting, comparing, time, and sharing. This approach not only makes Maths more interesting and relatable to their lives but also creates a bonding opportunity for you to work on Maths together. Connecting Maths to everyday experiences helps children recognise its importance and relevance in their daily life.
Maths Should Be Fun
Incorporating games, puzzles, and interactive activities into your child's Maths learning at home can be a great way to make the learning process more enjoyable and engaging. Games can be a fun and motivating way for children to learn Maths concepts and skills. You can find many fun and educational games and activities online (here, for instance) or create your own based on your child's interests and learning style. By making Maths learning a fun and interactive experience, you can help your child develop a love for the subject and build their confidence in their Maths abilities.
Maths Learning at LCIS: Supporting your Child to Master Maths For Future Success
At LCIS, we are committed to providing a rigorous and balanced maths curriculum that is aligned to the English National Curriculum (ENC) objectives. We use White Rose Maths resources and support to ensure a comprehensive and effective approach to teaching mathematics.
Learn more about White Rose Maths here, and benefit from their free resources.
