People naturally develop the ability to perform basic math. In fact, research shows that babies start counting even before they learn to communicate. While this won’t always translate into success in school for kids, there are ways you can build on this innate skill and encourage a love of math at an early age. For extra math help, here are a few activities to try with your kid.

How Can I Provide Math Help to My Young Kids?

1. Get Them Some Fun Tools

Though not exactly toys, some devices can be fun to play with and impart crucial math knowledge. With an abacus, for example, kids can move the beads back and forth across the wooden frame to familiarize themselves with addition and subtraction. And they can continue using it to help solve low-level math problems before moving on to a calculator. Kids also love playing with interlocking cubes, during which they learn to recognize and create simple patterns.

2. Incorporate Math Into Chores

What better way for kids to learn math than while helping out around the house? On laundry day, have them measure detergent and separate clothes into distinct piles to reinforce their categorization skills. They can also help set the table and reinforce their counting and memorization skills as they set the correct number of utensils. Consider tying all these activities together with a chore chart, which your kid can use to keep track of daily tasks and calculate any small allowances.

3. Engage Them With Games

Games allow you to bond with your little one and give them basic math help in a more hands-on way. For example, use colorful flash cards to test basic addition and subtraction. Classic board games also have some teaching value. Next family-game night, use a child-friendly version of Monopoly to impart some quick lessons in finance, from counting money to understanding the value of investing. For something a little simpler, try the dice-based Yahtzee, which can teach kids about probability.

Sometimes, kids need a little extra help to grasp essential math concepts. At Mathnasium, specially trained instructors provide math help to children in grades 2 through 12. Their customized learning plans and proven results have earned them the distinction of Farmington Valley’s “Best Tutoring Center” two years in a row. Visit them online to learn more about how the Mathnasium Method™ will help your child succeed in the classroom. To speak with a representative, call (860) 785-6284 to reach their Avon, CT, location, (203) 261-0588 for Trumbull, or (603) 644-1234 for Manchester, NH.