5 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Math Skills (Without Making It a Chore)

Many parents want to support their child’s math learning—but don’t know where to start. The good news is: you don’t need to be a math expert. You just need to create a home environment where numbers are part of everyday life. Here are five practical, research-backed ways to help your child develop strong math skills—while keeping it fun and stress-free.

1️⃣ Talk About Math Daily

Children build math understanding through math talk—just like they build language through conversation.

Try this at home:

• While cooking: “We need half a cup. What if we only have a quarter cup—how many do we need?”

• While shopping: “If we buy 3 apples at 10 baht each, how much will that cost?”

Research: Studies from the University of Chicago

(Levine et al., 2010) show that early exposure to number talk predicts later math performance. Just hearing numbers and comparisons boosts number sense.

2️⃣ Play Math Games (Board or Digital)

Games make math engaging, visual, and interactive.

Game ideas:

• Uno or Dominoes: Recognizing numbers and patterns.

• Dice Games: Practice addition and probability.

• Online Games: Apps like Prodigy, MathTango, or Cool Math Games can make learning feel like play.

Research: A 2020 meta-analysis (Riconscente et al.) found that game-based math learning significantly improves motivation and achievement in elementary students.

3️⃣ Focus on Understanding, Not Just Correctness

If your child gets the answer wrong, ask, “How did you get that?” instead of “That’s wrong.”

What to say instead:

• “Interesting approach! Can you explain your thinking?”

• “Can we try it another way and compare?”

Why it works: This encourages a growth mindset—the belief that effort and strategies lead to success.

Research: Carol Dweck’s work on mindset (2006) shows that praising thinking and strategies—not just correct answers—leads to better learning outcomes and long-term persistence.

4️⃣ Use Visuals and Objects

Not all children learn best from worksheets. Many benefit from seeing and touching math concepts.

Try this:

• Using LEGO blocks to show multiplication or fractions.

• Drawing bar models to solve word problems.

• Using number lines to explore addition and subtraction.

Research: The CPA (Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract) approach—used in Singapore and other high-performing systems—has been shown to deepen understanding by moving from hands-on tools to abstract symbols (Carbonneau et al., 2013).

5️⃣ Make Mistakes a Normal Part of Learning

Children often fear math because they fear being wrong. But mistakes are a powerful part of learning.

Create a safe math space by saying:

• “We all make mistakes—what can we learn from it?”

• “Even grown-ups mess up with numbers sometimes!”

Research: Jo Boaler (Stanford University) highlights how making and analyzing mistakes actually grows brain connections and leads to deeper learning.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need fancy tools or hours of tutoring to help your child love math. What matters most is:

• Talking about numbers,

• Encouraging effort,

• And making math a fun, everyday experience.

With just a few small changes at home, you can help your child build confidence and skill that will last a lifetime.