MathsBites founder shares four ways parents can support their children to improve their maths skills

A maths teacher with 30+ years of experience shares four simple ways parents can help their primary-schoolers become a star at maths.

Maths isn’t just about numbers.

It’s about confidence, conversation, and connection – and yes, parents can absolutely be part of that.

After being in the classroom for over 30 years, I saw the slow, silent retreat by parents from helping their child with maths.

Once upon a time, parents were fully invested in their child’s education, but times have changed.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, back in 1979 only 40 per cent of couple families with children under 15 had both parents working.

By 2000, that rose to 56 per cent – today, it’s 73 per cent.

Penny McGann is the founder of MathsBites.

Add smartphones, social media, and the rise of digital distractions, and it’s no surprise time for homework help, especially maths, has taken a hit.

When a child is in kindergarten, parent engagement in their education starts out fabulously.

In those early years, maths feels familiar – counting, shapes and patterns.

Then from year 1, things shift, significantly so too in year 3.

New language and strategies leave many parents feeling lost.

But, here are four easy ways parents can support their child’s learning in maths.

1. Use their language

The terminology and the way we talk about maths has changed significantly since you were at school.

Many parents do not know the language has changed, and this becomes a huge issue at home.

As recent as last week, I spoke with a parent who did not know we don’t use the phrasing of ‘carry the one’ anymore.

We haven’t used this for ages, but here I was having the conversation.

Using the same words gives your child the continuity and familiarity they need to build confidence.

Maths has changed a lot since you were at school.

2. Use their strategies

It’s the same with the strategies that are taught and used in class.

Rushing our kids to use a strategy or process we understand, but they do not, is like asking an emerging reader to read War and Peace fluently.

We know it takes lots of meaningful, small steps and repeated practice to become confident and for it to become increasingly easier.

It’s the same with maths.

Whether you agree with the strategies or not, put that to one side and use theirs.

Students learn multiple strategies because it helps them see how numbers work.

It builds a ‘toolkit’ of strategies so they will always have the right one for the situation and having a selection gives them flexibility which builds their confidence.

3. Help them talk about their thinking

Being able to discuss their thinking and justify their choice of strategy is an important part of their learning journey.

They start this in kindergarten, and sure, it looks very different to that of someone in year 6, but it happens.

It is in the discussion of why your child solved something a certain way that will open the door to understanding the way your child thinks, mathematically speaking.

It also gives them, and you, an opportunity to use the associated language and discuss the strategies.

4. Link the maths in their environments to what they’re learning in class

The more we talk about the maths that surrounds us in nature, architecture, art – the more we allow our children to ‘see’ maths.

Knowing how to incorporate what they see with what they’re learning in class helps make maths relevant.

These strategies are simple, but they’re not always easy, especially when time is short and there seems to be so much to ‘learn’.

That’s why resources designed specifically for parents, like MathsBites, which focuses on bite-sized, parent-friendly guidance that aligns with what’s happening in primary classrooms, are important.

It’s about helping parents feel equipped to support maths at home, in the car or at the shops.

When parents feel confident, kids feel supported ... and that’s when the magic happens.

Penny McGann is the founder of MathsBites, an online resource built specifically for parents to support primary children to build maths confidence and enjoyment.

Originally published as MathsBites founder shares four ways parents can support their children to improve their maths skills