Problems with math: how to help your child

Mathematics is one of the three subjects that students experienced difficulties with last year. Moreover, as a survey of Ukrainian schoolchildren by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) found, this discipline took first place among all the subjects that are most difficult for children. The other two disciplines are chemistry and physics. How to overcome fear of the subject and how to choose a qualified math tutor – further in the article.

Students explain the deterioration of their mathematics knowledge by the following factors:

• Fatigue and stress due to war;
• Distance learning;
• A curriculum that is not adapted to the learning format of schoolchildren;
• Missing classes due to air alarms or lack of electricity.

How to get your child excited about learning math

Parents can also help their child learn math better. First, they should explain to their child why math is such an important subject.

• Tell how it affects your later life, give a few examples of how mathematics helps in everyday life. For example: explain how this knowledge will help you calculate interest on discounts, count change in a store, and correctly split the bill between friends after a party;
• Explain that mathematics develops logical, critical, abstract, and spatial thinking;
• Tell us what promising professions a child can obtain thanks to mathematics. For example: becoming an IT specialist or a building designer.

Next, parents should find out why their student is having problems with math. Several factors can affect this:

• Difficulties in learning and understanding mathematics can arise from the common fear that he will not be able to cope with numbers and rules;
• The situation can also be complicated by the fact that the teacher either explains his subject superficially or does not pay attention to all the children;
• Your child may not be able to learn a subject as quickly as others, and the teacher may not want to stop at one student to explain everything again. This may be due to teacher fatigue or the large number of students in the class.

How can parents notice that their child is having difficulty with math?

Finding the problem in time and solving it is the main task of parents. There are several factors that can help you understand that your child has problems with math:

1. The child tries to finish homework as quickly as possible, or, conversely, puts it off until last. This may all mean that he or she does not understand the subject well;
2. The child does not understand what he is doing. For example, he solves a problem, but it constantly fails. And even elementary mistakes cause a stupor, what to do next. All this may indicate that the child does not understand the subject well and simply guesses the answer.
3. The child is so stressed that he or she refuses to go to school. This could mean that he or she is afraid of not being able to learn and understand math again.

In this case, it is worth talking calmly with the child, finding out his fears and identifying his weaknesses. Comfort him and offer a joint solution to the situation.

How to help a child learn math?

First, you can try to resolve all misunderstandings with mathematics on your own:

• Help your child understand the subject, if possible, explain the material. But do it calmly and patiently;
• Comfort your child if they are frustrated that they can't understand math. Reassure them by showing them that you too have had difficulties with the subject.
• In no case do not scold your child for failure. Explain that even losses are not the end. That there are both defeats and victories. But for victories you need to praise and encourage them to new achievements;
• Talk to your child's teacher. This will help you understand your child's strengths and weaknesses. Find out what needs to be improved.

Tutoring as a solution to a math problem

If you understand that you cannot cope with explaining the subject on your own, hire a math tutor for your child. The advantages of such a solution are obvious:

• A professional tutor will immediately understand the gaps in the study of the subject and will work intensively with the material that was previously inaccessible to your child;
• The tutor will devote all his time to your child. Unlike a teacher who has several dozen other children, he does not have to divide his attention between them all. So he will be able to teach the same topic as much as necessary;
• A professional will calm the child and explain the entire incomprehensible subject in an interesting and effective way.

How to choose a professional tutor?

1. A math tutor must understand the subject, and therefore have a specialized education;
2. Learn about the teacher's professional skills and teaching methods. To do this, sign up for a trial lesson;
3. Learn about the tutor from his students. Read reviews, collect as many recommendations about him as possible.

A positive attitude and encouraging your child to learn will help solve the problem. And highly qualified tutors from BUKI will help you with this. They will not only explain the subject, but also teach your child to love and understand mathematics.