Maths is important because it is the foundation for many skills and disciplines, including science, engineering, technology, finance, and more, and is essential for problem-solving and critical thinking, so teach maths.
In this blog, we’ll share some tips and strategies to help parents and teachers make maths fun and engaging for young children by incorporating examples and stories.
- Start with the basics to teach maths
Begin with teaching your child to count from 1 to 10, and then gradually move on to higher numbers. Use everyday objects like fruits, toys, and household items to make counting more tangible and relatable for young children. For example, you can use apples to teach counting. Start with one apple and add another apple until you reach five. This helps children understand the concept of addition and counting. - Use visual aids and teach maths
Visual aids are a great way to help children understand mathematical concepts. Use colorful charts, diagrams, and pictures to illustrate concepts like addition, subtraction, and shapes. You can also use toys and manipulatives like blocks and puzzles to help children visualize concepts. For example, you can use blocks to teach shapes. Have your child stack different shapes and colors to make a tower. This helps them understand the differences between shapes and colors. - Play games and teach maths
Make learning fun by incorporating games into your teaching. Games like “Counting in the Kitchen,” “Shape Scavenger Hunt,” and “Math Bingo” are great ways to teach maths concepts while also keeping children engaged and entertained. For example, you can play a game called “Number Hunt.” Hide numbers around the house and have your child find them. This helps them practice counting and identifying numbers. - Use real-life examples and stories
Children learn best when they can relate to the material being taught. Use real-life examples and stories to help children understand how maths is used in everyday life. For example, when you go grocery shopping, have your child help you count the number of items in the cart. This helps them practice counting and also shows them how maths is used in daily activities.- Another example is to use a story to teach a maths concept. For instance, use the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” to teach the concept of “more” and “less.” Have your child compare the sizes of different objects in the story to understand the concept of “more” and “less.”
- Be patient to teach maths
Remember that every child learns at their own pace. Be patient and supportive, and don’t get frustrated if your child doesn’t understand a concept right away. Keep practicing and experimenting with different approaches until you find what works best for your child. - Celebrate successes
Be sure to celebrate your child’s successes along the way. Positive reinforcement can go a long way in motivating children to continue learning and exploring maths concepts. For example, you can reward your child with a sticker or a small treat for successfully solving a maths problem. - Emphasize problem-solving
Teach children to approach maths as a problem-solving exercise. Encourage them to think critically and creatively about how to solve a particular maths problem. This can help build problem-solving skills that will serve them well in other areas of their life.
Here are a few more examples of how you can use examples and stories to teach maths concepts to young children:
- Use a story to teach measurement
You can use the story of “The Three Little Pigs” to teach measurement. Have your child measure the different materials the pigs use to build their houses, such as sticks, straw, and bricks. This helps them practice measuring and understanding the differences in size and length. - Use real-life examples to teach time
Use a clock to teach your child how to tell time. Show them the different hands on the clock and what they represent. You can also use real-life examples, such as telling your child they have 30 minutes to finish a task, to help them understand the concept of time. - Use a story to teach fractions
You can use the story of “The Ant and the Grasshopper” to teach fractions. Have your child divide a piece of food into equal parts to represent fractions. For example, if the ant has six pieces of food and wants to share it with the grasshopper, they can divide it into halves, thirds, or quarters. This helps them understand the concept of fractions. - Use real-life examples to teach money
Use money to teach your child about counting and adding. Show them how to count coins and bills and how to add them up. You can also use real-life examples, such as giving your child a certain amount of money to buy a toy, to help them understand the value of money and how to make purchases.
Incorporating examples and stories into your teaching can make maths more relatable and engaging for young children. It helps them see how maths is used in real life and makes it easier for them to understand abstract concepts
In conclusion, teaching maths to young children can be a fun and rewarding experience for both parents and teachers. By using these tips and strategies, along with examples and stories, you can help your child develop a love for maths and build a strong foundation for future learning. Happy teaching!
Maths stories that you can use to teach mathematical concepts to young children:
The Three Little Pigs – Teaching Measurement
In this classic story, the three pigs use different materials to build their houses. You can use this story to teach measurement to young children. Have your child measure the different materials the pigs use, such as sticks, straw, and bricks, using a ruler or a measuring tape. This helps them practice measuring and understanding the differences in size and length.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Teaching More and Less
The story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears can be used to teach the concept of “more” and “less.” Have your child compare the sizes of different objects in the story, such as the bowls of porridge, chairs, and beds, to understand the concept of “more” and “less.”
The Ant and the Grasshopper – Teaching Addition and Subtraction
In this fable, the ant works hard during the summer while the grasshopper plays, and the ant has enough food to survive the winter while the grasshopper does not. You can use this story to teach addition and subtraction to young children. For example, you can have your child add up the number of food items the ant collects each day or subtract the number of food items the grasshopper has left at the end of the summer.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Teaching Counting and Patterns
In this popular children’s book, a caterpillar eats his way through different foods before turning into a butterfly. You can use this story to teach counting and patterns to young children. Have your child count the number of foods the caterpillar eats each day and identify patterns in the types of food he eats.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe – Teaching Counting
This classic nursery rhyme can be used to teach counting to young children. Have your child count along with the rhyme and use their fingers to help them keep track. You can also use this rhyme to teach skip counting by twos, fives, or tens.
By using stories like these, you can make maths more relatable and engaging for young children. It helps them see how maths is used in real life and makes it easier for them to understand abstract concepts.
