How can I help my child with maths?
Why maths matters
Mathematics helps children make sense of numbers, patterns and relationships so that they can solve problems in everyday life. It strengthens reasoning, decision-making and confidence. As children learn to apply mathematical thinking in different situations, they begin to see it as a practical tool rather than a set of isolated skills.
Helpful routines
Short, regular practice is often more effective than longer, occasional sessions. Setting aside five to ten minutes a few times a week helps children build familiarity and confidence. Games and puzzles are valuable, particularly when adults model curiosity with prompts such as “What do you notice?” A calm, positive tone encourages children to explore mathematical ideas without fear of making mistakes.
Practical ways to support maths at home
Everyday life provides many opportunities to build mathematical understanding. Children might compare quantities while helping to lay the table or count steps as they walk. Reading numbers on clocks or signs, sorting objects into groups or noticing which has more or fewer can all strengthen early number sense.
Cooking is another natural way to explore maths. Measuring ingredients, calculating time or adjusting recipes encourages children to think mathematically. Shopping can also be supportive: estimating totals, counting change and comparing prices help children apply their knowledge in real-world contexts.
Talking about maths is particularly powerful. Using vocabulary such as total, difference or estimate helps children understand concepts more deeply. Asking children to explain how they solved a problem encourages reasoning, while noticing patterns, in times tables, sequences, symmetry or odd and even numbers, builds fluency. Prompts such as “Is there another way to solve it?” or “How do you know?” can guide thinking and develop independence.
Celebrating the approach a child takes, rather than focusing solely on accuracy, helps build confidence and a willingness to try new strategies.
Supporting number fluency
Children build fluency through repeated practice in varied contexts. Number bonds, pairs of numbers that combine to make another, provide a strong foundation for addition and subtraction. Rolling dice, counting forwards and backwards from different starting points or practising skip counting in twos, fives or tens make learning feel playful while supporting automatic recall.
Supporting times tables
Times tables underpin many later mathematical skills. Quick recall develops over time, and children benefit from encountering multiplication in different forms. Chants, clapping rhythms, matching games and digital tools can make practice engaging. Spotting patterns, such as those shown on a hundred square or in arrays, helps children understand rather than simply memorise. The focus is on gradual progress rather than speed in the first instance. Rapid recall will then build over time.
For older or more confident mathematicians
As children grow, they can deepen their understanding by explaining how they reached an answer, comparing different strategies or exploring puzzles and logic games. Real-world examples, such as timetables, budgeting or sports statistics, help them apply mathematical thinking beyond the classroom.
How school supports maths
In school, lessons are carefully sequenced so that children move from concrete materials, to visual representations, and then to more abstract forms. This progression helps children build secure understanding. Regular arithmetic practice strengthens fluency, while reasoning and problem-solving tasks allow children to apply their knowledge in new ways. Times tables and mathematical vocabulary are taught explicitly and revisited often, supporting children to express their thinking clearly.
Talking about maths
Conversation is an important part of mathematical learning. Questions such as “What do you notice?” or “Can you show me another way?” encourage children to explore patterns and justify their thinking. Noticing similarities and differences between methods and reflecting on what helped them reach an answer supports deeper understanding. These small exchanges promote curiosity and show children that maths is about exploration as much as finding the answer.
Useful links
National Numeracy - Supporting children with maths