Tips for Maths at Home

• Be relaxed and positive about maths.
• Draw attention to the use of numbers in everyday life - on birthday cards, front doors, football shirts, price labels, street signs, telephones, clocks, tickets, page numbers etc.
• Look at numbers that show how many - a box of 6 eggs, a pack of 8 DVDs, a 24-piece jigsaw, a pack of 12 colouring pencils, a bag of 6 crisps etc.
• On a long car journey, play "Spot the Number Plate" - Can you see a number plate with numbers totalling 15, odd numbers, even numbers etc.
• Play games involving numbers e.g. Snakes & Ladders, Connect 4, Dominos or Monopoly. Help your child to keep score.
• Practice telling the time and performing time-related tasks e.g. programming the microwave, setting the DVD etc.
• Cook together - help to measure out ingredients and read numbers on recipes, scales and jugs.
• Involve your child in the food shopping. Ask questions such as: "Theres 5 of us for tea and we all need 3 fish fingers so do we need a box of 10 or 16?" or "Can you find a 2-litre bottle of cola?" or "Are there any yoghurts on special offer - how much are they?" 
• Talk about the shape of boxes as you unpack the shopping, pointing out cuboids and cylinders.
• Tip out the coins from your purse, wallet or pocket and count them up together.
  
• Be prepared to help with maths homework and listen as your child explains what they have to do and how to do it - remember, their method may be different to the way you were taught maths!
  
• Write notes on their homework sheets and talk to teachers if you have questions about it.