A key objective at St Pius X School is to build confident mathematical learners. How adults talk about maths to children is crucial to creating a positive disposition to maths.

The following extract is from Maths expert and parent, Associate Professor Janette Bob (from the University of Sydney). The message is: to have a positive attitude to maths and talk about it positively.

'Many parents are scared of maths or think they just can't do it, but it's the worst thing you can tell your child,' says Janette.

'Parents are just so crucial as role models,' she says.

'When parents tell their children that they themselves can't do it, it means they're communicating messages that it's OK not to be good at maths, which can carry all the way through high school.'

Maths is everywhere. Talking to children about how maths is important in their everyday life makes it relevant and real.

Mathematics is the science of patterns, rules and relationships, so look for and identify patterns in your environment, such as a sequence of number or beads in a necklace or the arrangement of brick pavers.

Playing games that involve cards or dice provides valuable opportunities to show that maths matters and helps them to become better mathematicians, Janette says. Recognising the arrangement of dots on dice and symbols on cards without counting is called subitising. It develops counting skills and supports their ability to work on more complex number problems in the future.

Encourage children to work things out in their head. Share the strategies you use when you are calculating and ask them how they are working out problems in their head. There are many ways to get one answer!

This article is based on information sourced from the Primary Mathematics Association of South Australia and the NSW Government Education website. To view the NSW Government Education website use this link: https://education.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/learning/maths/maths-tips/helping-your-child-feel-good-about-maths#At0