Even if your child is an enthusiastic learner, those two to three months without school will do a number on their math skills. In fact, the Harvard Graduate School of Education states that the average child loses 2.6 months of math learning during the summer break. From less regular sleep schedules to the absence of everyday lessons, there are many reasons why this regression takes place. If you want your little one to retain what they learned and come back to school prepared for more, use the following math help tips this summer.

How to Help Your Child Retain Math Skills Over the Summer

1. Make Math a Daily Event

Whether you’re gathering seashells on the beach or cutting a pizza in the kitchen, you can refresh your child’s skills by incorporating them into your summer activities. When you check out at the grocery store, have your daughter calculate the change you’ll receive without looking at the register. When you're trying to buy the less expensive package of paper towels, have your son calculate the unit price. By showing your child how math has everyday applications, they’ll be more motivated to practice their skills.

2. Have a Race

For many kids, a bit of friendly competition goes a long way. To encourage your child to get better at computing in their head, print timed math tests, and challenge them to a race. Whether they battle you, a friend, or their siblings, you can entice them to make progress by giving prizes to the grand winner. From sleepovers to ice cream, there’s plenty of ways to incentivize math help.

3. Play Games

This summer, make family game night a weekly event. Invest in games that incorporate math skills, such as Monopoly or Yahtzee. As your child counts money or dice, they will learn that math is more than practical—it’s fun! If you’re going on a road trip, take some word problems in the car and read them aloud to your child. In addition to providing them with math help, the critical thinking will keep them from asking, “are we there yet?”

If you’d like to give your child even more tools to improve their math skills, consider a tutor from Mathnasium. With The Mathnasium Method™, your child will excel in school and see their self-confidence rise. This technique was developed 35 years ago, but it continues to help students embrace new math skills and retain the ones they know. To get a free trial for your child, call (860) 785-6284 for their Avon, CT, location, (203) 261-0588 for Trumbull, CT, or (603) 644-1234 for Manchester, NH. Visit their website to learn more about their math help programs.