Practical Ways to Practice Math

Math often gets a bad rap for being “boring,” and completing worksheets and reciting math facts doesn’t exactly ignite excitement in kids. They often wonder when they will actually use the skills they’re learning. Incorporating practical applications into daily activities can make math more fun and interesting. In fact, your kids may not even realize they’re practicing important skills.

• Play Games

Yes, online games have their place in learning, and some can be fun and educational, but take a break from screens by having a family game night. Dust off your board games and decks of cards for some hands-on practice. Get your kids thinking critically and strategizing their next moves. For instance, what word can they create in Scrabble to score the most points based on where they place each letter? Counting up double letters and triple word scores can mean big points.

Games like Monopoly are great for counting money and calculating how much another player owes based on the value of the space and if there are any houses or hotels. Card games like Set encourage logic, visual perception, grouping, and pattern recognition. There are four different criteria that must be considered to make a match. Even solo activities like Sudoku are beneficial for practicing problem solving, logic, and reasoning.

• Calculate Costs

Shopping — whether for clothing, food, school supplies, or other items — can be a valuable way of reinforcing math skills. Give your kids a budget they must stick to when making purchases and see how they can get the most for their money. Practice percentages when figuring out discounts and whether something is a good deal. Is it most cost effective to buy a single item or a multi-pack?

When going out to dinner, ask your kids to determine how much money to leave for a tip. If they can spend $20, what can they order within their budget and still have money for tax and tip?

• Prepare Meals

Mealtime is often a central focus of the day. Get your kids involved in cooking dinner or baking dessert. How much of each ingredient is needed to double the recipe? What if you want to cut it in half? This is a great way to practice fractions. If one of the measuring spoons or cups is dirty, which other ones can be used together to measure the same amount? If a recipe makes four dozen cookies, how can you divide them evenly among the number of people you’re sharing with?

• Organize Space

If your child wants a new desk, what do the dimensions have to be to fit in the available space? Have them take measurements when hanging pictures to determine where to put the nails so everything is evenly spaced and level. There are a lot of things that can’t just be eyeballed and instead come down to precise measurements or else it’s going to be too big, too small, too short, too tall, or simply not right.

These are just a few of the ways you can naturally incorporate math skills into everyday life. Look for other opportunities as well, such as planning a trip, deciding when to leave for an appointment, or determining the most efficient way for a sports team to score enough points to win the game (shoot more three-pointers? Go for the two-point conversion?). Practice makes progress, so keep your kids actively engaged and applying what they’re learning in class.

Is something just not clicking? Are you struggling to explain it in a way that makes sense to your child? Turn to the team at Crafting Scholars. Our learning specialists develop customized learning plans to meet your child’s needs and goals and explain concepts in easily understood terms. Contact us today to learn more!

Originally published at https://craftingscholars.com on February 14, 2024.