Math for kids

Jill Stanek Numbers

 Doing math with your kids every day is just as important as reading and writing.  Incorporating math into everyday activities can be easier than you think--read simple counting books such as Curious Baby Counting to your infant, and trace the large numbers on each page with their finger.  As you're carrying your toddler up to bed, count the steps it takes.  Have your preschooler start doing simple addition problems with Legos, M&Ms, or even just their fingers.  Give your school aged child math brain teasers to work on while you're making dinner.  

There are many tricks you can teach your children to help them with learning multiplication.  A common and well known trick is for the nine-times table.  To quickly and easily figure out the nine-times table up to 9 x 10, follow these steps:

• Hold your hands in front of you with your fingers spread out. 
• For 9 X 5 bend your fifth finger down. (9 X 2 would be the second finger etc.)
• You have 4 fingers in front of the bent finger and 5 after the bent finger
• Thus the answer must be 45

Teaching your child simple tricks like the one above can help give them confidence in school.  It will make them eager to learn other tricks and develop their math skills.