Just like making other things fun and engaging for kids, learning math is no different. It just requires 3 magic components: motivation, purpose and rewards. It is important to find the appropriate combination for each student to make learning math for kids fun.
Some of you might
be thinking just mentioning the subject brings back memories of droning
professors, complicated equations and dusty chalkboards. How can learning math
be made fun? So that is where the involvement of motivation, purpose and rewards
in learning math will come to play and make it fun for children.
Making math fun
for all Learners
If learning math
for kids is about anything intimidating, it could be difficult for them to get
through. But there is a secret to getting the equation right. Making the
learning experience fun along with ensuring a healthy helping of creativity can
do the trick.
Try to connect
new material with the things that kids already know and enjoy. Connecting
mathematical algorithms with a fun card game or geometrical figures as
real-life objects and shapes can help to make learning math for kids fun.
Though, getting
started is just half the battle. Below we have mentioned some tips and ideas
that will help in making math learning more engaging for kids.
Four Ideas to
make math Learning Fun
Most students get
stuck with learning math by just thinking about the purpose “Why should I learn
this?” It has been found in surveys that kids tend to learn more quickly when
they find the content relevant to real-world situations and applicable to
achieving their goals.
So to make math
learning fun for kids, start with something more tangible and purposeful. Here
are 4 ways how to do it.
●
Take A Walk Or Go For A Road Trip
Get them some
fresh air by taking a break from the numbers. A walk will allow kids to
discover new things of various concepts and shapes. For instance, an octagon in
the stop sign or a triangle in the gable of a house will let kids recognise shapes
in the real world.
Along with this,
a long and fun road trip can be an excellent opportunity to make learn kids the
concept of distance and time. Visit destinations that kids might feel
interested in. You may also replace the worksheet with a map to make the trip
more interesting.
Also, try to
gamify the learning methods. Kids will learn the concepts quickly with
game-like activities. These activities do wonders in motivating a student.
●
Play Brain Games
Mathematical
equations and concepts are all about the different ways of expressing and
denoting numbers. On the other hand, flashcards aid in memory retention. So how
about combining the two? Find out or create flashcards that offer the same
value but are expressed differently. Ask kids to match them up but in a game
style.
●
Make a trip to the Groceries
Being a universal
motivator, food is something that every kid enjoys. Visiting a grocery store is
a great opportunity to solve a brimful of math problems. Prices, discounts,
free coupons and the number of products are all opportunities for kids to apply
their knowledge in real-life situations.
●
Prioritise monetary savings
Most kids get an
allowance after hitting a certain age. Though they are in a hurry to spend
that, you can also encourage them to save. Introducing them to piggy banks and
asking them to save a certain amount will lead them to think differently about
their money. This will also encourage better spending habits.
Takeaway
The education
system worldwide has suffered quite a few curveballs due to the 2020 pandemic.
Being introduced to distance learning, we all have uncovered new and engaging after school
programs. Kids are having
lesser opportunities to connect to other kids, making it tough for them to
engage in studies.
To provide a
solution, Kumon proudly offers maths
classes for kids where the self-learning structure equips your child with a
critical thinking mindset and skills that help them in dealing with new
materials independently. Kumon provides individualised instructions that are
planned by professional instructors and are practised regularly at home or the
centre.
