Maths at home: ten everyday ideas for Years 3 to 6

You do not need worksheets to help your child with maths at home. Everyday life is full of maths, and the most useful thing a parent can do is notice it out loud. Here are ten ideas for children in Years 3 to 6.

1. Cooking. Double a recipe, or halve it. How much flour now?
2. Shopping on a budget. Give your child a set amount and a short list. Can they make it work?
3. Journeys. If the bus comes every twelve minutes and we just missed one, when is the next?
4. Estimating. How many steps to school? How many books on the shelf? Guess first, then check.
5. Planning a party. How many guests, how many cups, how much will it cost? Most of the numbers have to be decided first.
6. Pocket money. How many weeks of saving for that game?
7. Measuring. Will the new bookcase fit? Measure, then decide.
8. Sport. League tables, scores and averages are statistics in disguise.
9. Board games. Dice and money games build quick mental arithmetic without anyone noticing.
10. Time. How long until dinner? What time do we need to leave?

The question that makes it count

Whatever the activity, ask "how did you work that out?" – and listen. The way a child explains their thinking tells you far more than whether the answer was right, and putting it into words is one of the best ways to learn.

Where More Mathematics fits

If you would like to know how your child thinks about maths – where they are confident and what would help next – try our free ten-minute taster. No account is needed.

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