Maths · 5 min read
Making maths fun (and why it matters)
Children who feel relaxed about maths learn more of it. The good news is that some of the most effective maths practice looks a lot like play.
How we talk about maths rubs off
Maths anxiety is real, and it starts young. Researchers have found that even children in Years 1 and 2 can feel anxious about maths, and that this worry takes up the working memory they need to solve problems [1]. Children also pick up attitudes from the adults around them: when anxious parents help a lot with maths homework, their children tend to learn less and become more anxious themselves [2].
You don't have to love maths, but try to avoid "I was never a maths person." Swap it for "This is tricky. Let's work it out together."
Play board games with numbers
In a well-known study, young children who played a simple numbered board game (like Snakes and Ladders) for a few short sessions improved their understanding of numbers and how big they are compared with children who played a colour version of the same game [3]. Counting the squares out loud while moving your piece builds a mental number line.
- Younger children: Snakes and Ladders, dominoes, Uno, card games like Go Fish with number cards.
- Older children: Yahtzee, Monopoly (the banker gets lots of practice), Rummikub, card games like Twenty-One.
Make maths talk part of the day
A study of first-graders found that families who used a short "bedtime maths" app, reading a quick maths story problem together a few times a week, saw their children make more progress in maths across the year, especially children whose parents were anxious about maths [4]. The point is not the app: it is regular, low-pressure maths conversation.
- In the kitchen: doubling a recipe, measuring, sharing a pizza into equal slices.
- At the shops: estimating the total, working out change, comparing prices.
- In the car: number plates (add the digits!), "How many minutes until we get there?"
- At home: telling the time, counting down to an event on a calendar.
Practise facts little and often
Quick recall of number facts (like 7 + 8 or 6 × 4) frees up thinking for bigger problems. Short, frequent practice spread over days works better than long sessions [5]. Five minutes of a times-table game in the car is worth more than a weekend cram.
References
- Ramirez, G., Gunderson, E. A., Levine, S. C., & Beilock, S. L. (2013). Math anxiety, working memory, and math achievement in early elementary school. Journal of Cognition and Development, 14(2), 187–202. Source
- Maloney, E. A., Ramirez, G., Gunderson, E. A., Levine, S. C., & Beilock, S. L. (2015). Intergenerational effects of parents' math anxiety on children's math achievement and anxiety. Psychological Science, 26(9), 1480–1488. Source
- Siegler, R. S., & Ramani, G. B. (2008). Playing linear numerical board games promotes low-income children's numerical development. Developmental Science, 11(5), 655–661. Source
- Berkowitz, T., Schaeffer, M. W., Maloney, E. A., et al. (2015). Math at home adds up to achievement in school. Science, 350(6257), 196–198. Source
- Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380. Source
This guide is general information for families, not medical or psychological advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to their teacher or your GP.