Be positive about mathematics. For example, remind your child daily of how it fits into your lifestyle; inform him that everyone can learn mathematics. Praise him while you are helping him learn and let him know how much fun you think math is (even if you don't). When your child knows how much you love mathematics and that you consider it to be useful in your everyday life, it will make him eager to learn math as well.
Include mathematics in your child's day-to-day life. For example, whenever you go grocery shopping, allow your child to tag along so she can practice mathematics by adding up purchases and measuring ingredients needed for meals. When you are making dinner, encourage your child to add, subtract, multiply or divide the dinner plates, cups, silverware and place mats.
Allow your child to verbally and physically explain things they don't understand. Though most children learn well with verbal explanations, others need a more hands-on approach. If your child comes across a math problem he doesn't understand, encourage him to use objects or sketches to solve the problem. If he is have trouble solving a division problem such as "6/3," then ask your child to use cookies to demonstrate and solve the problem. Set out six cookies onto the table, and then ask your child to divide the cookies into two rows of three. Instruct him to add up each row of cookies; the number of rows should amount to two. After the problem is solved, have your child explain to you how he solved the problem. If he is having trouble explaining the problem, assist him as needed.
Play games. Using activities for learning purposes is a fun way for your child to better understand mathematics. For instance, play the game "100." You need a pair of dice to play this game. Each player roles the dice and then multiplies the result. The first person to reach one hundred is the winner. Encourage your child not to use a calculator while playing the game unless it is used to check answers.
Instruct your child to identify and measure objects throughout the house. Plenty of mathematics problems include shapes and measurements. Ask your child to define the shape of each of the objects she uses, such as the cereal box. Give your child measuring tape and ask her to measure several objects throughout the house in both inches and centimeters.