Parents will sometimes feel intimidated when it comes to helping their child with mathematics, which is understandable. For many parents you may have found mathematics difficult enough for yourself when you were a child and the homework was your own. Now years later when lessons in many different aspects of math, such as long division or percents, parents are expected to try and recall long forgotten practice to help your child succeed.

            Even though some parents can be rusty in math there still ways you can help your child to be more proficient. Helping your child in math should not be considered a hopeless struggle as you would imagine it. Today there are many resources/tips to help your child than just the textbook. Here are a few tips to help your child to improve their skills in mathematics and to make learning math more enjoyable for both you and your child.

            First thing when looking at your child’s math homework do not panic. This is important because the child will sense what your own feelings are on the subject they are studying. This is especially important if you have struggled with math in the past. In other words, if you give a vibe that math is difficult and intimidating; your child will also learn to feel that way. Instead of being fearful if you and your child do not know how to solve the problem, treat it as a fun and interesting puzzle that needs to be solved.

            Second a parent should make sure that they are on the same page as their child. In order to give your child appropriate type of math homework help, it is important to understand what concept your child is currently working on in class. For example if your child has a word problem that can be easily solved with a certain algebraic equation you remember, it would be futile to use this method since the child has not learned this yet. In order to make sure you and your child are focused on the same objective, ask your child to bring their notes home from class.

            Third a parent should determine what their child already knows. The parent should have their child organize all know information about the problem in a way that he or she understands. This can be done by making a list, drawing a diagram or chart, or working backwards through the problem. Have your child sort through this information and determine what information is useful and what is not.

            Fourth a parent should have a working partnership with their child’s teacher. Try having periodic discussion with your child’s teacher to discuss the topics your child will be learning and ask for advice as to how you can best help your child reach these goals. He or she may be able to offer number of ways that you can increase your child’s understanding of mathematical concepts.

            Fifth a parent should encourage a love for math in a child’s life.  Parents should demonstrate to their child how numbers can work in everyday life- count toys, food items, cars on the road, etc. Buying a math activity set will also help your child not only to learn the concept of math but to also have fun as well.  Provide your child with toys/tools that a child can use for a more hands-on experience with math.

            Parents who feel that they are very rusty with math themselves to help their child there are a number of resources to help you remember what was forgotten. There are many internet websites that are geared to helping parents and teachers to brush up on forgotten math skills. Sites such as www.about.com/library/blone.htm or  http://www.homeschoolmath.net/teaching/word_problems.php to brush up on any math skills.

            Finally it would also be beneficial for your child in hiring a math tutor.  This is in case the partnership between yourself and the teacher is not enough from keeping your child from falling behind. Math is an important subject and one that will follow them on standardized test scores throughout their academic careers. Tutoring may involve just the type of focused, individualized math help your child needs to get back on track. An internet search can help you find a number of tutors in your area.

            Mathematics can be a difficult and intimidating subject for both parents and their child, but it should not mean it is impossible to help your child to succeed in this subject. Following these tips can help to ensure that your child will bring up their math grades and feel more confident about the subject. This will also help you to feel confident with yourself and knowing you have the ability to help your child.