Mother is one of the toughest jobs in the world. The position demands many talents. One is simultaneously a taxi driver, a cook, a maid, a secretary, and more. It’s also unpaid and requires working 365 days with no vacation days. For this Mother’s Day, in addition to recognising the long list of things mothers do for us, Spark Math wants to give a shout-out to mums for helping their children achieve a higher level of education. When it comes to learning math, mums have a positive and lasting impact on their children.
This May, we take the chance to say Happy Mother’s Day to mums all over the world as we take a look at 5 ways mums play a key role in positively impacting their children’s math learning.
1) Mums are integral in shaping the math learning experience
Mums are children’s first caregivers and educators. They are vital in ensuring a child’s personal as well as educational development, and this influence may be more than you think. Research has shown that the relationships between family members and children have a large impact on math learning. In addition to parental involvement having a positive impact on children’s academic outcomes overall, mothers often play an even more important role. Mums, who are often the primary caregiver of households, are in a better position to provide learning resources and make decisions about their child’s education. When mums are more involved in their children’s schooling, their children tend to perform better.
2) Mums help their children succeed in math
Never underestimate the work mums do at home. The everyday interactions mums have with their children may seem insignificant, but they actually offer valuable opportunities for learning. According to research conducted on parent-child mathematics, the wide range of daily activities that parents take part in with their children help in early math development. Activities such as puzzles, board games, and even songs are engaging ways for children to interact with math.
So when mums teach children fundamental math skills such as counting numbers, they’re starting their child’s journey towards math mastery. Want to know more about what kind of activities you can try with your child? Check out our post on math games to get more ideas on how you can inspire your child to learn math!
3) Mums encourage a positive attitude towards math
Children look up to their mums as their role model, and this is also the case when it comes to math. A study by University of Waikato confirmed that parents indeed play an important role in influencing children’s attitudes towards math, which leads to positive learning outcomes. By showing interest in math and encouraging a positive math learning environment at home, mums can help children cultivate a positive attitude towards the subject. It may not seem like much, but mums are making a huge difference!
4) Mums set goals and help their children to reach their full potential
Mums know their little ones inside out. While the saying of “mother knows best” is not always correct, mums sure know a lot about their children ranging from their favourite food to their weirdest habit. When it comes to education, mums help to discuss and set attainable goals together with their children for math and academic work. This aligns their focus and boosts their motivation. When they achieve their goals, mums can celebrate their successes, and this builds their confidence and gives them a sense of accomplishment in math learning.
5) Mums can tap on the power of technology to empower their children to learn better
In this digital era, blended learning is becoming part of the norm. It is becoming increasingly important for young learners to use digital learning tools. Mums can help their children become familiarised with these tools by teaching them some basic technology skills. For certain topics, technology enhances the learning experience. Here at Spark Math, our experienced, expert curriculum design team incorporates specially-designed animation, diagrams, and interactive elements to make math learning more engaging and accessible. This can be particularly helpful for learners with certain learning styles.
Using technology is also a fun way to stimulate learning and build a love for math in children. By equipping children with useful technology skills, mums are empowering their children to learn better and getting them ready to be future-ready learners.
A tribute to mothers on their special day
As we appreciate all the amazing mothers in the world, let’s also applaud the crucial roles that mums play in their children’s math learning journey. From teaching multiplication tables to patiently explaining complex concepts, mums are their children’s biggest supportive and dependable cheerleaders. To all the mums out there, we are forever grateful for your unwavering support and encouragement. Wishing you a most wonderful Happy Mother’s Day!
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