Many parents rarely use the words fun and math in the same sentence, especially on nights when it’s time to balance the checkbook! But there are simple games you can play with your child as you’re going about normal, daily tasks that can build their math abilities. And in the process, you’ll have fun together as you complete household chores.
Pizza Math
Have your child divvy up a pizza with you, and you can talk about what percentage each piece is of the pie. This activity can help your child learn fractions and percentages.
Guessing Games
Before you begin folding a load of clothes, have your child take a guess about how many items of clothing there are in the dryer. This game helps children gain a sense of volume and quantity.
Graphing
Point out interesting graphs in magazines, newspapers, and on cereal boxes. By helping your child learn to read the margins of graphs, you’ll build their awareness of how mathematical findings can be presented visually.
The Shape Game
At the dinner table or in the car, play a game to see how many items of one shape (or how many different shapes) can be found within a time limit. Rectangles or circles will give the highest number of items; try for offbeat shapes such as ovals to push your child to see a range of shapes in the world around them.
Once you begin to notice shapes, numbers, and graphs around you, your family will quickly develop their own favorite math games. And who knows-if you have a child who loves math, you may eventually have a teenager who likes helping you balance that checkbook!
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