Helping Kids Learn Math: The Parent's Place

There are many questions you must ask yourself as a parent, when you have a child that is struggling in math.

Many parents don't realize how much of an influence they have over their child. Up until the age of 14; the parent has a greater influence over their child than most outside elements. Though things such as peer pressure and media influence definitely exist for kids and tweens; many children still look to their parents for the ultimate answers to every question up until the ages of about 12 to 14.

Around the age of 14, many kids start to decide who they are; and who they want to be. They also start to decide what they believe.

Whether these beliefs differ from their parents'; does not matter anymore.

Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that everything you want your child to value and hold in high regard; should be communicated to her in as much detail as possible before the age of 14-if you want those beliefs to be present in adult you'd like your child to grow into.

Your child's idea of math and appreciation for it should definitely be impressed upon him as early as possible. If your young child hates math; as a parent you must ask yourself: "how do I feel about math?" Did you like math when you were your child's age? Some natural skills and abilities are genetic. But, with the proper tutoring and assistance; anyone can surpass what they thought their natural abilities could accomplish.

Do you say things around your child like, "well I always hated math...," or "just focus now on getting good grades; but, you won't need this later." What kind of ideas about math are you planting in your child's head?

Do you make your child feel that math will be useful to them? Do you feel that in your own heart?

Do you feel that most real world employment won't require math? Do you feel that the career path you feel your child will be most interested in following will require math and mathematical skills? Do you chime in with your child when they are complaining about how hard math is? Do you tell your child that you don't use math in your own career?

Children are very intuitive and they are watching you very closely. They pick up on many-if not all-of the subtle ideas that you portray to them. They love and respect you. When they are especially young, you are their superhero. So they are studying how to feel about everything including math from you.

The first thing to do when you are trying to help your child become better at math; is to make sure that the way that you think of math and it's place in this world is positive and productive. If the way you think of math is not positive and productive; then you must go about changing that in your heart.

This appreciation for math must be genuine and truly heartfelt. Your child will pick up on your guise if you are being phony and simply acting like you like math to convince them to do better. Your efforts may not be effective if you do this. Once you truly understand the value of math for your child, and in your child's life; you will then find your child to be much more receptive to learning mathematical concepts.