5 Ways To Make Maths Fun For Kids

Maths. What is it good for? Absolutely … quite a lot as it turns out. Some form of Maths is used by 94% of all workers (68% use fractions, decimals, and percentages). So, whatever your little one decides to be when they grow up, it’s very likely they’ll be needing a bit of Maths. But some kids struggle with the subject. Not necessarily because they’re no good at it, but because they’re being let down by the way they are being taught. Finding a learning style that fits them is what is required. And it is worth trying fun.

Fun is the universal learning language for all kids, and it is not used as often as it should be. Use this technique well, and you will soon find that Maths worries are a thing of the past.

Belle About Town spoke to Jon Goga, maths tutor and founder of BrainySpinach Math. Here are Jon’s five things to remember when helping your child along the path to enjoying Maths:

1. Encourage effort

Maths is very much a subject where the journey is as important as the destination. Praising effort and learning is important: put emphasis on the effort it took to get to where they are; praise them for not giving up, for trying a new method, and for their interest in Maths.

Children need to understand that it is not all about getting the answer right; understanding the logic behind a problem is the goal. This is how they develop a growth mindset.

If they say, “it’s hard”, tell them that it just means that their brain is working. Hard work is tough.  We should help children to look at problem solving in a fun way, suggesting ways they can work out the problem – this helps to get their brain working hard and results in the brain expanding to fit in the new concept.

2. Avoid harsh approaches

Criticism and shame do not work. All you will do is negatively impact a child’s well-being. Instead of criticising, make children understand that it is OK to make mistakes, that getting something wrong has benefits in the form of learning opportunities.

Rather than focusing on an answer that is wrong, shift to the logic of the problem and help them to understand that first. Ask for a problem to be explained as simply as possible. Avoid offering too much help. You want a child to start to independently solve the problem. Patience is vital.

3. Combine maths and art

There are many art activities that incorporate Maths, for example, a deep understanding of geometry can be an incredibly useful tool for an artist, allowing them to create a certain perception for their audience.

We can see Maths in artistic crafts such as music, dance, painting, architecture, pottery and many others. Maths art projects let kids be creative while also teaching them mathematical concepts.

These activities engage a child’s creativity, and they make learning a joy. There are activities available for children of all ages and skill levels. The best part about all these Maths art projects is that they get “Maths kids” thinking about art and “art kids” thinking about Maths. A win-win for all sides.

A great way to ignite a sense of pride in work is to provide fun learning tools. British stationery company The Ink Pot offer a unique personalisation of their dot grid journals, perfect for budding mathematicians to doodle and do their working out in. They also sell an array of the finest colourful pens, pencils, washi tape, paperclips, penholders and quickie glue, to please the fussiest child. 

4. Take learning online

In some people’s minds, video games have a bad reputation, but in recent years, a lot has changed. We live in an age of ‘edutainment’: the combination of education and entertainment. Your child can happily play through games whilst learning and practicing their Maths problems.

BrainySpinach Math teaches Mathematics to kids aged 7-11 through fun and innovative free Roblox games so that they no longer fear Maths and are prepared for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) vocations. This is all about meeting them where they are already having lots of fun – as that is the way to help learning.

The Maths Teacher “BrainySpinach” also hosts free and entertaining Livestreams regularly on YouTube, playing through his and other educational games on Roblox with the “BrainySpinach Squad”. They welcome anyone else that wants to join in. Suffice to say, students love it, and many parents report back that their child’s Maths Anxiety has all but vanished after just a few hours with BrainySpinach.

5. Don’t make it about you

If you hated Maths at school, keep it to yourself. Many parents think that sharing their own poor experiences is a way to sympathise with their child. But it is not the most inspiring thing to pass on. We should not talk about how much we hated Maths or how difficult it can be around our kids. Instead, let us talk about how much fun Maths can be, link it to real-life situations, and make it more exciting for them.

• BrainySpinach Math creates fun and exciting online games on the Roblox platform for children to play that teach them essential math skills, all while inspiring them to learn by playing games they love – and allowing parents to ensure their child’s screen time is always productive. BrainySpinach Math is also the creator of the Roblox Math Camp – a course that has children learning math while playing tutor-created Roblox Math games.