Help your young children master basic math skills. Communicate frequently with your children's teachers so you will be able to help reinforce the skills they are working on currently. In kindergarten and first grade, children learn how to count, recognize and write numbers to 100, and begin simple addition and subtraction. Drill their kids at home with flash cards or find math games on the Internet. Internet4Classrooms.com has many interactive activities that keep young children's attention while they practice various counting and number skills. The games on this site are categorized by skill, making it easy for parents to find appropriate activities.
Help your kids review for math tests. Many children get distressed before taking tests, especially final exams or standardized testing that is administered at the end of the school year. Parents can support their children in several ways. Find out all you can about standardized tests, to help your child prepare. Most states have practice tests available online for each grade level. Review the skills that are most problematic for your child. If math is not your strong suit, hire a tutor or enroll your child in an after school math program. Convey a positive attitude about the tests and avoid placing undue pressure on your child to make a certain score.
Teach your child about the practical uses of math. The teacher is bound to the classroom setting, but you are not. While buying groceries, reinforce knowledge of percentages by calculating sales tax or the price of sale items after applying discounts. PBS.org has a site especially for parents with suggested activities to bolster math knowledge. Ask your child to count the change from your pocket while in the checkout line or waiting room, or ask her to estimate the length of commercials while watching TV. Practice measuring by making a recipe together.