Learning mental math can give young kids a significant advantage in school. Indeed, mental math strategies can be a powerful tool for young kids. These can be an excellent way for kids to develop their math skills and become more confident. By teaching them how to calculate in their head as early as preschool, you’ll help them build confidence and fluency in math.
It’s never too early to help your little one develop skills in mental math. Here are eight mental math strategies that you can use to help your child boost their math skills:
Start with essential addition and subtraction
Mental math starts with the basics of addition and subtraction. Help your child learn basic facts by heart so they can do mental math quickly and easily. You can begin by teaching them to count from 1 to 10, then 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100. Then, practice simple addition and subtraction equations such as 2+3=5, 5-2=3, 10-5=5, etc. Once they have mastered the basics, you can move on to more complex equations.
Use visual aids
Visual aids can be helpful when teaching mental math strategies to kids. You can use objects around the house to help them understand concepts such as addition and subtraction. For example, you can put out ten apples and ask your child to divide them into two piles of five. This will help them understand that 5+5=10. You can also use coins to teach essential addition and subtraction. Put out 10 pennies and ask your child to make two rows of five. This will help them understand that 5+5=10.
Play mental math games
Mental math games are a great way to teach mental math. They can make learning fun and exciting, too! There are many mental math games that you can play with your child. One simple game is to ask them to add up the number of objects in a room. For example, ask them to count the number of chairs in the room and then add that number to the number of tables. This will help them practice their mental math skills while having fun simultaneously!
Use flashcards
Flashcards are another great way to help kids learn mental math strategies. Many different flashcards are available, so you can find ones focusing on addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. You can also find ones focusing on specific mental math strategies, such as counting by twos or fives. Use flashcards with your child to help them memorize cognitive math strategies.
Practice mental math daily
Daily mental math is essential if your child wants to improve their skills. There are many ways to do this. You can ask them to do simple equations, such as 2+3=5, 5-2=3, 10-5=5, etc., daily. You can also ask them to solve more complex problems as they become more proficient in mental math.
Use a whiteboard
A whiteboard can be an excellent tool for practicing mental math with your child. On the whiteboard, write down simple equations and have your child solve them. You can move on to more difficult equations as they become more proficient. You can also use the whiteboard to play mental math games with your child.
Please encourage them to think out loud
Encourage your child to think out loud when they are doing mental math. This will help them verbalize their thoughts and better understand the concepts. It will also help you know where they are having difficulty so you can assist.
Reward them for their progress
Give your child a small reward each time they accomplish something in mental math. This will help them feel motivated and encourage them to keep practicing. You can give them a sticker or a small toy each time they complete an equation correctly or reach a new milestone.
Developing mental math strategies can significantly help your child in school and life. These strategies can help them complete math problems more quickly and easily, understand concepts more deeply, and boost their confidence. Use these tips to help your child learn mental math strategies and improve their math skills today!
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