The Woodlands LearningRx suggests ideas for parents to make learning math fun

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – With Halloween around the corner, there are plenty of things that go bump in the night that may scare your child. But one nightmare may haunt them even in the daytime, right in their own classrooms.

“A lot of children simply dread math,” Kim Bellini, owner and director of The Woodlands LearningRx, said. “Luckily there are a number of tricks that can turn the subject into a treat instead of a chore.”

Here are a few of Bellini’s suggestions of ways parents can help children face their fears:


Be a good example. If parents talk about how hard math is and how much they struggled with the subject, children are likely to follow suit. They will adopt their parents’ attitudes and see math as drudgery. Instead, parents should describe math as a fun puzzle – like a video game, each time you master one level, you move on to a more exciting challenge.

Go digital. There are a number of ways to practice math skills online or through apps. Why not take advantage of those readily available, educational and fun games? Children love playing with devices – so load up a computer, smartphone, tablet or iPad with math apps.

Break out the board games. Cards and classic games like Monopoly, Connect 4, Chess, Checkers, and Chutes and Ladders are great ways to introduce children to numbers, counting, basic arithmetic and strategic problem-solving. Try Mathopoly, Equate, Sum Swap, Ingenious, Pizza Math or Head Full of Numbers for a fun game night.

Make math part of your usual activities. Look for ways to incorporate math into your everyday routine. For example, bake with your child and modify the recipe, asking your child to adjust the measurements accordingly. Or for younger children, create math problems like, “The recipe calls for five cups of flour. We already added three. How many more do we need?” If you are running errands or on a road trip, ask, “If we are driving 30 miles per hour and need to go 180 miles, how long will the trip take?”

Show how math ties to sports. If you have a child who loves to watch the games with you, take the opportunity to talk about scores, batting averages and percentages. Get baseball or basketball cards and compare statistics – or create a fantasy league.

Create a competition. Get a group of children together and play “Math Jeopardy” or some other type of competitive math game. See who can solve problems the fastest – for a fun prize.

Get started today! Teach toddlers to recognize patterns and sequences. Pick up some books with math topics to read to your child and count objects in front of your child. You also can find toys that teach shapes, like blocks and simple puzzles.

“Math is a skill that is necessary throughout life – not only in school, but later in work and at home,” Bellini said. “Students need to be able to pass those standardized tests – but they also will need to be prepared to handle their finances one day.”

Knowing how to solve equations and work with formulas also helps children develop analytical and reasoning skills. In addition, they learn general problem-solving strategies.

“Helping children become interested in math is critical – and the only way to accomplish this task is by making the subject fun and enjoyable,” Bellini said. “Children learn best when the lesson becomes a game.”

The Woodlands LearningRx offers unique, one-on-one training to help students of all ages strengthen their cognitive skills and transform their abilities to learn at a core level.

Come check out our new location at 10857 Kuykendahl Rd. Ste. 240. To learn more, call 832-482-3082 or visit learningrx.com/the-woodlands or woodlandsenespanol.com/directorios/perfil/learningrx-the-woodlands.