Flexing Your Math Muscles

Riding a bike, swimming in the deep end, and playing an instrument are just examples of our favorite childhood activities that require practice to master.  So does math.

 

Math is an intellectual muscle that needs to be worked every day.  It's crucial for fully developing a child's potential.  Those muscles can atrophy if not used anywhere other than school.

 

The goal should be to make math "real" and meaningful by pointing it out in the world around you.  That could include checking and comparing prices at the grocery store, driving down the street counting mailboxes, reading recipes, or calculating coupons

 

Just as you encourage your early reader to look for familiar letters, ask your child to watch for math, regarding math as highly as you do reading.