{"id":7283,"date":"2016-04-06T09:16:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-06T09:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/?p=7283"},"modified":"2026-03-30T09:18:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T09:18:47","slug":"how-to-get-your-kids-into-math","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-kids-into-math\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get Your Kids Into Math"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Picture1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><center><span style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: 130%; color: #31849b;\"><strong>Teaching maths concepts has long been considered the domain of the classroom teacher, with many parents often feeling\u00a0unable\u00a0to help their kids develop this skill.<\/strong><\/span><\/center><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">However, parents already do many things with their kids that can encourage mathematical thinking and help them see the relevance of mathematics in their everyday lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Cultivating this sense of relevance and interest in mathematics has been shown to be a key contributor to a child\u2019s future success in this area. Here are some opportunities for developing mathematical thinking, which parents and kids can enjoy together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 130%; color: #000000;\"><strong>Out and about<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-7301\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/map-455769.jpg\" alt=\"map-455769\" width=\"350\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/map-455769.jpg 1909w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/map-455769-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/map-455769-1024x677.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/map-455769-150x99.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>Working out how many kilometres you will travel is an easy way to practise computation skills and develops an interest in map reading. Another calculation might be how far you can travel on one tank of fuel, then finding a place on the map to stop and fill up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Older kids can be in charge of planning overnight stops after working out how far you can travel in one day. Challenge them by adding extra information:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #693e1a;\"><em>If the speed limit is 100km, what is the latest time we can leave to arrive by 4pm?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">This encourages them to think about the question and plan a method for finding a solution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 130%; color: #000000;\"><strong>In the garden<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-7305 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/garden-1290908_1920.jpg\" alt=\"garden-1290908_1920\" width=\"350\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/garden-1290908_1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/garden-1290908_1920-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/garden-1290908_1920-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/garden-1290908_1920-150x99.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Kids love getting dirty and playing in the garden. Parents can harness this enthusiasm and develop math skills at the same time. Spatial awareness is used when adding plants to the garden. Estimating the positions so the plants are evenly spaced is something we all do &#8211; why not give this job to your child?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Estimating skills are also used when digging the hole for the plant. Determining how deep it needs to be is often calculated through guess and check, an identified problem-solving strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Kids with understandings of multiplication could use an array to plan the positioning of carrots in the veggie patch. With parental supervision, older kids can apply their knowledge of ratios when making liquid fertiliser &#8211; one part plant food to three parts water.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 130%; color: #000000;\"><strong>In the kitchen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-7312\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/sister-553520_1920.jpg\" alt=\"sister-553520_1920\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/sister-553520_1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/sister-553520_1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/sister-553520_1920-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/sister-553520_1920-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>Getting the kids in the kitchen is a favourite holiday activity for many families. The pride and enjoyment kids get from baking cookies or helping prepare the family meal are invaluable. Mathematical knowledge and processes are a fundamental part of this experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Measuring quantities accurately is crucial if you want the cake to rise. Actively discussing this with kids brings the importance of this math concept to life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Develop curiosity by presenting problem-solving opportunities:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #693e1a;\"><em>We need 1 cup of sugar, but we have only these \u00bc and 1\/3 cups to measure with. What can we do?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">And then ask again:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #693e1a;\"><em>Great idea! What else could we do?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Knowing that there is often more than one way to solve a problem provides comfort for those who think in different ways. Using scales to weigh ingredients reinforces the skill of reading these numbers and draws on knowledge of decimals. Calculating when the food will be ready uses knowledge of time, but also encourages basic number strategies, like counting by 5s, to be practised:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #693e1a;\"><em>The recipe says \u2018chill for 30 minutes\u2019. It\u2019s 11.50am now, when will it be ready?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Fractional concepts are developed when cutting the cake into equal parts. Every child wants their fair share of that chocolate cake!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\"><strong>At the shops<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-7316\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/fruit-111928_1920.jpg\" alt=\"fruit-111928_1920\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/fruit-111928_1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/fruit-111928_1920-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/fruit-111928_1920-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/fruit-111928_1920-150x113.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">When you\u2019re out at the shops, there are plenty of ways to get kids thinking about and exploring maths. Simple counting exercises with young kids are a great way to reinforce early number concepts like number sequences and cardinality:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #693e1a;\"><em>1, 2, 3, 4, 5. We have 5 apples in the bag.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Another number concept easily practised at the shops is comparison:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #693e1a;\"><em>Do we have more apples or oranges?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">As parents, we often choose the item that represents better value by comparing the \u201cprice per 100 gram\u201d &#8211; verbalising your thinking helps kids to refine their own mental processes. Budgeting, adding monetary values and calculating change are all skills that benefit from practice in a real-life situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Giving older kids $10 and a small shopping list develops these skills as well as fostering a sense of independence. The post-Christmas sales give kids some purposeful reasons to apply knowledge of percentages, if only to convince you that new toy is a real bargain!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%; color: #000000;\">Parents can easily use every day experiences to reinforce and develop mathematical skills and support their kid\u2019s learning of this important subject area. Showing how maths is used in daily tasks provides the perfect balance for the formal learning of the classroom. Mathematics is an area where both teacher and parent input is necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><b><i>About this psychology research:<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/kylie-robson-115026\" target=\"_blank\">Kylie Robson<\/a> is a Clinical Teaching Specialist at the University of Canberra<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><b>Source:<\/b> Kylie Robson &#8211; <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">The Conversation<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Teaching maths concepts has long been considered the domain of the classroom teacher, with many parents often feeling\u00a0unable\u00a0to help their kids develop this skill. However, parents already do many things with their kids that can encourage mathematical thinking and help them see the relevance of mathematics in their everyday lives.... <br \/><a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-kids-into-math\/\">Continue reading...<\/a>","protected":false},"author":7550,"featured_media":15623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dyscalculia"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7550"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7283"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7373,"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7283\/revisions\/7373"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}