How to teach your child maths

Oct 07, 2001

If you are committed, the child will grow up knowing that learning is fun

By Margaret K. Lubega LAST week we looked at how parents can introduce simple basic Mathematics concepts to our pre-school children. By the time the child is ready for school, if you are willing to teach basics and etiquette well, you will have made a strong foundation for your child to enjoy schooling. Pre-school children actually want to learn and can learn about a lot of things. They usually formulate surprisingly complicated explanations of concepts they do not understand. Continue to find it a joy in helping your child to learn those concepts. When your child has mastered to count from 0 to nine, the next step would be to teach them how to write the numerals they are counting. Your child will learn more quickly if you make large size numerals. Help them to trace through using the index and middle finger. This may take time. You need to be patient. Remember that pre-schoolers have a short span of concentration. Once they have mastered counting and identifying numerals, you can start assessing them. Use an empty egg tray to accomplish this step. Number ten compartments on the egg-tray 0 to nine. The other two compartments can be covered with tape. Provide your child with 45 groundnuts, beans or small pebbles that they will use to distribute correctly into the untaped compartments. Let the game begin. An egg-tray is ideal because it gives the child some degree of self correction. It also enhances their critical thinking skills. In another game, write a single digit on several pieces of paper and put them in a basket or plastic bowl. Let your child draw them out one at a time. Let the child get for you the corresponding number of items such as soda bottle empties or empty jars. Dodo leaves can also do. How many did they get? Why do you think they got the others wrong? What strategies are you going to use to help them out? Record the scores. Make a simple progressive report card. Keep the follow up. It feels so simple but yet child friendly. The child grows up knowing that learning and making discoveries can be fun. As a parent you are the child’s first teacher and your home is the first classroom. To accomplish this demands that you put in time and are committed. This will also help you bond with your child. The writer is a lecturer at the Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo (ITEK.)

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