If your child loves sports, show him how math fits into the picture. He may not jump with excitement over an assignment to study multiplication tables, but he may cheerfully learn them when you ask, "How many points would the team score if they scored three touchdowns?" or "How many three-point shots must a basketball team make to score 27 points?" Read his favorite team's box scores and develop math questions from the statistics.
Your child's favorite game of cards may also provide rich opportunities to teach math skills. Divide a deck of cards evenly between you. Flip over a single card each. If your child can state the difference between the two cards, award that number of points for the correct answer. For a twist with more than one child playing, allow the other players to earn the points by correctly indicating the difference if your child gives the wrong answer.
Dominoes and dice games provide teachable opportunities in a playful environment. Puzzles teach the basics of geometry in a nonthreatening way.
Avoid the boredom of long car trips with a number-guessing game. Choose a number, and ask your children to guess the number. Tell them to guess higher or lower until they arrive at the answer. Ask them to add or multiply the numbers on road signs or license plates.
Include your child in meal preparation for numerous opportunities to teach math skills. Measuring, counting, doubling recipes and discovering fractions provide a rich learning experience with a tasty treat as a reward at the end.
If your child struggles with math, relieve the pressure she feels by encouraging her to learn the essential skills in ways she responds to positively. Discover her interests and find teachable moments in those. If she likes to read, find the math in the books she reads. If she likes history or science, incorporate math into those areas to teach her valuable skills in a way she grasps easily.
Offer your child the change in your pocket if he correctly calculates the exact total. At the grocery store, teach him the value of money by asking how many quarters he needs to buy a certain item. Ask him how much money he needs to purchase the item if he already has a certain amount of money.
Teach your children to ask math questions of their own. This develops curiosity and thinking skills that encourage improvement in math and other learning tasks. Teach her to use a ruler and calculator. Carefully approach word problems with the understanding that learning how to think through the provided information means more than getting the right answer. Teach her to estimate distances, height and quantities with objects in your home and yard. Look around you for everyday opportunities to create a hunger for more math knowledge in your child.