Is your dislike of math rubbing off on your kids?
I liked math until about the middle of 4th grade.
It was around that time that I got thrown into the deep end of math known as “long division.” It ruined my interest in math for years. Lots of years.
Because of that experience in 4th grade, and the struggle with math in the years that followed, I adopted the identity as someone who is: not good at math, doesn’t like math, and can’t do it well.
And this probably isn’t a surprise to you, but I’m not the only one.
According to Marilyn Burns, math education guru and author of Math: Facing an American Phobia , nearly two thirds of American adults fear and loathe math.
So what can you do to make sure your kids like math even if you don’t?
Here are just 2 of the 5 ways you can make sure that your dislike and anxiety around math doesn’t transfer over to your kids that I learned from this article by Donna Verry Dee:
Play Math
This means stepping away from the textbooks and worksheets and getting physical with the math instead. You can use Cheerios or play card games to be in contact with numbers and learn the basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts.
Watch Your Words
You might be tempted to tell your kids that you weren’t good at math when you were growing up, or agree with them when they say that they hate math by saying, “Yeah, me too,” but that’s not going to help.
As much as possible, curb your negative comments about math and instead focus on acknowledging the good work they’re doing around math. You can talk other people about how you don’t like math. You don’t need to load that onto your kids.
Click through to the full article to read the other 3 tips for making sure your kids like math, even if you don’t. Then, if you have some other techniques for getting your kids to like math, share them in the comments section for other parents to see.
Math Anxiety: Are You Passing Yours On To Your Child? [Parenting Journals]
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