Why helping at home is important

Mathematics is one of the most important subjects that your child studies at school. Numbers are all around us and even if you don't feel yourself to be a mathematics genius, there is plenty that you can do. In fact, your child should enjoy most of the suggested activities so much that he won't even realise that it's educational! Children do really benefit when parents take a keen interest in their mathematical learning. You can help your child to gain confidence and develop a positive attitude towards mathematics by talking about what has been taught at school and helping him to notice and use mathematics in an everyday context.

Ideas and tips

The first thing that children recognise is 'one-to-one correspondence' - the idea that one object can be linked to another. So, talk about numbers in everyday contexts: 'Here is one apple for mummy and one for Sam.' Count stairs as you go up and down.

Gradually, your child will learn to count. Then, when you are out and about, encourage your child to recognise numbers on doors, car number plates, house numbers, prices, clocks, weights and phone numbers.

Watch and play sports that involve scoring, timing, counting and measuring.

There are lots of songs and rhymes that involve counting and numbers. Those with actions are especially fun to sing, so altogether now for '10 Green Bottles'!

Get your child to help with the shopping. Count items as they go into the trolley and look at the size of various packages: decide which container is bigger or smaller, taller or shorter, holds more or less. Set up a play shop at home, using old packaging as 'stock'. Write the prices clearly on sticky labels. Later on, this gives opportunities for adding up and subtracting to calculate change.

Bath-time is great for simple shape and volume activities - does that beaker hold more water than that plastic cup? Show your child how to use a simple thermometer to take the temperature of the water. Make sure that any thermometer you use is suitable for use with children. Mercury thermometers in particular are extremely dangerous if they are broken.

Cooking is good to help your child get to know simple weights and measures. An old-fashioned set of balance scales is ideal. Count out spoonfuls of ingredients. Let your child help you set the timer and count down to teatime! Later on, this is a good way to introduce the idea of ratios and proportions, too. Bear in mind that your child will be learning the metric system at school, so try to measure amounts in grams and kilograms.

Play games that involve numbers and counting. Anything with dice is good, as well as simple card games and bingo. Construction games are helpful in developing spatial awareness (understanding of spaces, objects and how they fit together).

Measure your child's height and show him where the height is on a chart. Provide them with a simple tape measure and get them to measure the length or height of objects in the home. As with weights and measures, try to use metres and centimetres when measuring things with your child.

Add number apparatus to your child's toy collection - counters, a purse full of change, dice, dominoes, a tape measure, ruler, pack of cards, timer, different shapes - and use them to make mathematics come alive. Invest in a range of maths puzzle books.

Based on an article by Lorna Smith

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