How To Make Maths Fun For Primary School Kids

When you think of Maths, do you picture numbers on a chalkboard, or do you remember learning fractions while eating pizza or measuring heights with your siblings? While Maths often involves numbers, it doesn’t have to be intimidating or dull! There are many ways to make Maths engaging and enjoyable while still being educational.

Your children’s teachers are working hard to teach the fundamentals of Maths. As a parent, you can reinforce that learning at home and show your children that Maths can be fun.

Two Key Rules for Making Maths Fun:

1. Don’t compartmentalise: Incorporate Maths into everyday life to make it feel less daunting.
2. Make it hands-on: Keep Maths interactive and engaging to prevent boredom.

Creative Ideas for Making Maths Fun

1. Find Ways to Celebrate

Everyone loves encouragement and recognition. Celebrate your child’s Maths milestones in creative ways. For example, reward them with ice cream for mastering their multiplication tables, or create a secret handshake for every correct answer. For older kids, offer age-appropriate rewards like extra screen time or higher pocket money.

Celebrate Maths events, such as Pi Day (14th March) or World Maths Day (23rd March), to show that Maths is enjoyable and exciting.

2. Encourage Friendly Competition

Friendly competition can motivate your child. Encourage them to set personal goals and strive to improve on their previous performances. A tutor can help set measurable goals and use innovative methods to ensure your child’s progress.

3. Make Maths Relatable

Relating Maths to real-life situations makes it more engaging. Here are some ideas:

1. Act it out: Use everyday objects to solve word problems visually.
2. Teach measurement and distance: Measure their height or discuss distances during family trips.
3. Keep it fresh: Use different materials like LEGO blocks to solve problems in new ways.

4. Turn It Into a Game

Children love games, so why not integrate them into Maths learning? Try these:

1. Dice War: Players roll dice, and the highest number wins a point. Tally scores to practice addition and subitising.
2. I Spy: Use a deck of cards to find pairs that add up to a given number. This game builds addition skills and critical thinking.

5. Add Food

Use food to teach Maths in a fun way. Practice fractions with pizza, addition with grapes, or measurement and ratios while baking. These activities are interactive and delicious!

6. Encourage Maths Talk

Model meaningful Maths conversations. Ask open-ended questions like, “Why did you choose this strategy?” or “What numbers could I be thinking of if rounding to the nearest hundred gives 200?” Such discussions spark curiosity and deeper understanding.

7. Get a Tutor

If your child feels frustrated or struggles with Maths, a qualified tutor can help rebuild their confidence and abilities. Teach Me 2 online Tutors are experienced professionals who personalise learning to meet your child’s needs, making Maths a subject they can enjoy and excel in.

Click here to find the perfect Maths Tutor for your family!