By now, you should have quite a few fun maths techniques up your sleeve to try out with your little one, but we still have a few more that we’d like to share with you.

In parts 1 and 2 we offered techniques to help your child with counting and sums. But this time, we’d like to offer some fun strategies that introduce the exploration of patterns, shapes and language.

More strategies to teach your child maths at home

Making patterns

Lego makes for a great resource when it comes to helping your child explore patterns. Your child can play around making various shapes, as well as matching up colours.

Introducing ‘maths’ language

Be aware of incorporating mathematical concept words when discussing everyday things with your child. For example, try and use words such as “few”, “some”, “less”, “more” and “a lot”. As you say these words, demonstrate them for your child. As you grab four apples at the supermarket, you could say, “I’m just taking a few apples for us to make apple pie later.” By starting to use these words with your child as early as possible, they will feel less intimidated when this language first gets introduced at school.

Noticing shapes

Introduce your child to shapes by identifying various shapes in your environment. For example, you could ask your child to point to things that are circular or round (the sun, a ball, doorknobs, the bottom of a cup etc). This is an interesting exercise to do with your children, as they often point out shapes that you may not have noticed before!

Kids Monopoly

While ‘kids monopoly’ or ‘junior monopoly’ is usually for older children, younger children can still play around with the paper money to practice their maths skills. This is always a favourite for kids as it’s like playing with real money!

Piggy bank

Not only does a piggy bank help to teach your child maths, but it also teaches them the importance of saving. Using the coins in a piggy bank, you can teach your child all kinds of maths skills such as counting, addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. If you are teaching your younger children maths, make sure you count the number of coins loudly as you drop them into the piggy bank.

Digital platforms

There are many outlets that support the curriculum that your child is learning at school in their maths lessons. In the UK, there is BBC bitesize, and most countries offer equivalents. Platforms such as these are fun, informative, educational and challenging activities for kids and they give a fresh, exciting and positive approach to learning using digital technology.

How to help your child's maths skills at home (Part 3)