Learning Math

Shop and learn math

Throughout his education, your child will take many math classes. Learning math, for some children can be difficult and intimidating. Playing math games and activities with your child helps to incorporate math in daily life and make it less intimidating. He will begin to see that math can be fun and that it will become more important later in life.

A practical way to make learning math fun for your child is by taking him shopping with you. Ask your child how much your purchase will cost when you are buying several things. If you're spending too much money, you can ask him what you shouldn't buy to bring the balance down.

When your child has tallied up your total balance, tell him how much money you have and ask him how much you will have left after you've made your purchase. This will teach him subtraction, but he will also feel that he is helping you shop.

You can also teach your child about percentages when shopping. If you see something that is marked down forty percent, tell him how much it costs now and ask him how much it cost originally. If you go out to dinner, ask your child to help you figure out the tip. First figure out what ten percent is, then fifteen percent and then twenty percent. You could also comparison shop with your child to determine the best value available to you.

Teaching your child math while shopping will both strengthen his skills and illustrate the practical nature of mathematics. He will begin to develop smart shopping strategies and advance his math skills at the same time.

back