It can be hard when your child is struggling academically. When kids feel defeated they tend to push against the homework they’ve been assigned and before you know it everyone is upset and they keep falling further and further behind. And then comes the famous phrase “I’m never going to need to know this, anyway!”
And sure, that may be true. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t worth learning. With the help of math tutors in Chicago or your area, you can get your child back on track and help them to not only find success in school but apply the skills they’ve learned to other areas of their life.
Everyone is a mathematician! Seriously! Take a look at this list of things that mathematicians (you) do and consider how it will benefit your child in their life to learn all that math has to offer. The benefits of learning math certainly outweigh the fact they might not like it right now.
1. Math Makes You A Problem Solver
Math is all about the analytical mindset and being experienced in math allows us to think critically and to reason. It seems weird to think about how a train leaving a station problem can truly affect our mindset, but when you learn to solve math problems you will exercise the same skills you will need to solve other problems.
Problem-solving is all about taking the knowns and unknowns and implementing a process to make the best possible choice. Math exercises the brain and allows you to apply mathematical strategies to everyday life. Getting kids excited to be problem solvers isn’t hard, they come by it naturally. Help them engage them in math and they will succeed!
2. Cooking and Baking? All Math!
Think about the process of making pancakes on Saturday morning. There’s so much math going on that maybe you don’t even recognize. You have to measure ingredients and figure out how many pancakes each person is going to get. Maybe you need to double your recipe? It’s likely you don’t sit down to think about how to change the quantities of ingredients.
The fractions and math needed in cooking and baking are just one real-world application of math skills and it’s also a great way to engage your child in the learning process. Having a reluctant learner learn fractions by baking cookies is a great option with a sweet reward.
3. Math Helps Your Career
Sure, the adult world seems far away for your nine-year-old but the skills she is learning today will inevitably aid her career path. Math is used in almost every career somehow. Obviously mathematicians and scientists and doctors rely on math frequently. Whether or not you plan to utilize higher-level math on a regular basis you have to admit everyone uses math sometimes.
Imagine you’re driving on a road trip. Figuring out gas, mileage, and speed is all math and that’s stripping it down to the basics. Math is everywhere, even without you realizing it. Fostering math education is important for your child’s future.
4. Money Is Math.
When you explain it to a child that way, they may suddenly get a lot more eager to figure out the math they’re struggling with. Even automated cash registers require some knowledge of basic arithmetic. Consider opening a savings account in your child’s name to spark their interest beyond what the tooth fairy is bringing.
Even if your child is absolutely certain she will never use math, it’s worth mentioning she will eventually have to get a job and get paid. Understanding her take-home pay versus taxes and exemptions is a crucial part of financial planning and responsibility. In these basic terms, everyone uses math.
People who know math are less likely to go into debt because they are able to understand their account balances and can budget them correctly. Nobody likes overdraft fees but if you’re not mathematically conscious they’re far more likely to occur. When you teach a child the basics they will be able to be far more self-sufficient in the future.
5. No Matter Where You Go, Math is the Same!
One of the most interesting things about math is that it’s universal. All over the world, all children learn the same math. Mathematical rules don’t change because you’re in another country — 1 + 1 = 2 no matter where you are.
Understanding this concept early broadens your worldview and can inspire children to learn. Math can actually be a joyful concept when you add some perspective to a child’s education. It is often reassuring to children that there are others in the same situation as they are.
6. Technology Relies on Math
You know that smartphone your teenager just has to have? It runs because of math. Math is essential to learning new technologies. In today’s world technology is changing as we speak. Children today need to learn math so that they can keep up and helped create the next latest technological advancement.
If you believe that children are our future you should also believe that math skills are an integral part of that future. So when your teenager gets frustrated that his app keeps crashing, explain that he could use his math skills to create an app of his own.
Conclusion:
It’s never too late to increase your brain’s capacity for learning math. It may take a little more work but you can always inspire your children to continue on their math education. When it seems like an uphill battle, it’s a great idea to bring in some outside help from a tutor.
A solid mathematical education is essential for children no matter what their passions and ambitions are. Everyone uses math! It’s just a matter of finding the right way to get your child excited about it as well. Sure, Algebra may seem complicated but if they can conquer that they are on their way to being able to conquer anything at all.
Reblogged this on Project ENGAGE.
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