Math, what for?

 

Basic math skills are essential for paying bills, buying merchandise, and going to the grocery store. Often times, kids don't make the connection between math problems in school and math in the real world. You can help make math knowledge more important for your children by showing them everyday math skills.

Paycheck.

Kids likes money. Parents likes money. Everyone likes money, because money means food, clothes, and toys. Without a job there is no paycheck, and no paycheck means no skateboard.
Basic math skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are used to calculate how much is made in a paycheck, taken out for taxes, etc. Of course you know this, but your children probably don't think about it. The next time they complain about doing math problems, tell them their future employer could mistakenly give them less money than they worked, if they don't know how to do math.

Sales.

Your daughter wants you to buy her a convertible for her sixteenth birthday. Perfect opportunity to show her math “in real life.” Have your teens help calculate monthly car payments, insurance rates, and possible interest if an accident occurs. For little ones, have them collect change around the house, keep track of the count, and save up for a special item.

Bills.
Use your monthly bills as a way to teach your children how to manage money, and pay bill appropriately. You can have them use Monopoly money to divide amounts to each bill, or make fake checks to practice filling them out. If you want to be more creative, make it into a competitive family game to see who can pay their bills on time or make the most money.