We use the basics of math for various tasks every day. If your child is struggling with numbers, a math enrichment program combined with at-home activities can make the subject easier to understand and more fun to learn. Below outlines a few real-world uses for math to enjoy with your child. 

4 Uses For Math Your Child Should Learn About

1. Grocery Shopping

Encourage your child to help you while you grocery shop. Point out that math is used to weigh foods such as meat, fruits, and dairy products, and how the prices increase by the ounce or pound. Ask your child to estimate the total expense by adding together the prices of the grocery items.

When you’re finished shopping, you can have them help by counting the right amount of money to give to the cashier. Also, have your child make sure you get the correct change by comparing it to the receipt.

2. Gardening

Apply math to gardening activities with your child. This can include counting the number of seeds to plant in a vegetable garden or the number of flower rows you want for springtime germination. Garden-related math can also involve measuring spaces before tilling to graph plots and using geometry shapes to influence flower bed formations.

3. Arts & Crafts

The next time you and your child enjoy an afternoon of crafting, show how math is needed for art projects. For example, creating a collage requires measuring the cutouts against the canvas to ensure the right fit. Use home decorating as a math lesson by asking your child to help you measure the size of a picture frame to determine how far it needs to be from other wall decor.

4. Cooking & Baking

Emphasize how important measurements and fractions are in baking and cooking. Show how two ¼ cups make one ½ cup, and how two ½ cups make one cup. Also, apply math to liquid measurements or have your child count out ingredients such as chocolate chips or raisins. 

Take advantage of math enrichment programs at Palm Academy to help your child learn to enjoy everyday math problems. Serving the Bay Area of California since 2006, the learning center uses STEAM education and JEI learning techniques to help children and teens retain information and advance their educations. Call (510) 979-9794 today for program details or learn about the math enrichment program online. Get more ideas for educational family activities on Facebook.