Any person perfectly understands that without mathematics, at least everyday, it is impossible to do in modern society. Well, specialists - from builders to nuclear engineers - can not do without the most complicated calculations. Nevertheless, the question itself may seem strange to many: "How to love mathematics?" Some are sure for life: you either love numbers or never love them. In fact, this is not so. If you give your children very little time and energy, you can instill this love in them, regardless of their mentality - humanitarian or technical.
The use of mathematics
Talk about the benefits of mathematics for hours on end. The greatest representatives of mankind - commanders, scientists, philosophers and natural scientists - highly appreciated it, although not everyone used complex formulas in everyday life. Then what good is it?
Everything is very simple - mathematics develops the brain. It has long been proven that children who have learned to count early have better academic performance and, accordingly, are more successful in the future. Starting to study mathematics from scratch, they gradually notice in their lives simple algorithms that can be used to improve, simplify, logical justification. In general, it is similar to the ability to play chess well - on their own, these two skills may not be useful in life. But it is precisely the fact that they make the brain work hard, develop it, form a correct, clear and logical worldview, make them simply invaluable. It was no coincidence that our great compatriot Lomonosov used to say: "Mathematics must then be taught that it brings the mind in order." Perhaps it is simply impossible to formulate all the theses on the benefits of this science more concisely and precisely.
Mathematics is a discipline
Another reason to learn this complex, according to some people, science is discipline. Have you ever seen at least one unassembled teacher of mathematics who would love his work and be always late everywhere? The answer is quite obvious.
A person who is used to seeing mathematics in everything is incapable of becoming disorderly and dysfunctional. For him, the whole world is numbers that must be clearly observed. Therefore, he will always come on time, look neat. And at the same time he will get used to calculate his life for weeks, months and years in advance. This will allow him to accurately go to the intended goal, making him more successful and confident in life. Well, what kind of person would be hurt by such qualities?
Is mathematics subject to humanities?
Some people refer to the humanitarian mindset, justifying this inability to solve the simplest tasks. Alas, in most cases this is nothing more than an excuse. Of course, in order to prove the most complicated theorems and solve the longest equations, you really need a certain mentality, an inborn or educated talent from early childhood.
However, attempts to justify their unwillingness to know at least the school curriculum in mathematics by the lack of talent are usually the simplest manifestation of laziness. Indeed, even the humanist is able to study not only arithmetic, but also the basics of algebra. Moreover, this will bring him considerable benefits in life, even if he asserts the opposite.
Indeed, even people in the humanities and creative professions are interested in such qualities as punctuality, discipline, and self-control. And denying the benefits of mathematics, they deny the importance of such qualities.
We instill love from childhood
If you are interested in how to interest a child in mathematics, then remember: it is best to do this from early childhood - at the age of a couple of years, the average child is already quite capable of learning at least numbers. Perhaps he will not know their purpose and benefit. However, by 2.5-3 years, when he has developed enough to learn how to count, he will already know all the numbers. Therefore, you don’t have to spend too much time missing precious days studying them.
After all, practice has long proved that all the knowledge and skills acquired in early childhood have a huge impact on a person, his abilities and destiny.
Of course, you need to do this in a playful way. It makes no sense to put a two-year-old child at his desk and talk about mathematics for 45 minutes and about what benefits it will bring him in 20 years. This is a typical mistake made by parents who want to figure out at all costs how to make their child fall in love with math. The key word here is to force. This is impossible to do. But you can instill love, and it is much easier to do than it might seem at first.
The main thing is to arrange it like a game. Lay out cubes or cards with numbers and name slowly, distinctly numbers from 1 to 3 several times. Then ask the child to show them. Yes, for the first time it certainly won’t work out - or you are the parent of a real genius. Gradually, repeating and expanding the list, you can teach your child all 10 digits. You don’t need to be zealous - it should be an easy and unobtrusive game. It is better to repeat all 10 times a day for a minute, than to bring the child to tears, demanding that he quickly learn all the numbers, otherwise there is a high probability of repulsing a love of science for life.
We teach math in everyday life
Teaching mathematics from scratch, it is very important to show the child that this is really very important knowledge. Use any convenient occasion for this. Model the games according to the situation. For example, walking with a child along the street, ask him to count the pigeons, find a house or a car with the corresponding number, calculate how many ice creams you need to buy in order to be enough for all family members. Yes, you know the answer in advance, and it seems elementary to you. However, for a child this will be a real discovery.
By doing this easily, gently and unobtrusively, you will show the child in practice, and not in a dry theory, why it is important to know and be able to count. From here to the answer to the question of how to love mathematics, a couple of steps. Their child will be able to do it himself, although the help of parents is still very important. The main thing is that children from childhood should understand how important and useful science is mathematics.
We use board games
Another simple way to get a student to love math is to use board games. Today there are really a lot of them, and some are designed specifically for children. The main thing is to choose exactly those that are suitable for age.
Look for those where you need to count a lot and quickly, remember which cards are eliminated from the game, which else can remain in the deck. Yes, it is possible that outwardly the child will continue to dislike mathematics - nevertheless, it is associated with the one taught in school, often mediocre and dry. However, it is much more important that he understands it, knows it, and thanks to this it will develop.
A good example is the Russian board game Farmer. The box does not contain a word about mathematical development. You just need to buy equipment, grow various plants and animals, insure them and consider which culture will make a big profit. Even an adult will not be easy to calculate everything. However, the children's brain is striking in its flexibility and developmental ability. So in just a few games the average child will quickly carry out all operations, habitually adding hundreds and thousands, at the same time studying the theory of probability - one of the branches of mathematics.
And there are a lot of such games, the main thing is not to be too lazy and find them, and then instill in children a love for them. You can rest assured that love of mathematics will certainly follow.
Do not forget about the rewards
If you wish, you can easily find or compose the most interesting math problems yourself. This will instill interest in science, help the child realize that this is not at all a dry and boring calculation of numbers. Does the son love the cartoon "Mowgli"? Make up a small task of this type: in a pack of 10 pairs of wolves and Mowgli. In each pair of 3 cubs. To eat, a wolf needs one rabbit, Mowgli - two, and an adult wolf - three. How many rabbits do you need? It will take you a minute to complete such a task. And the child will spend much more time on the solution, at the same time having fun. Comprehending new heights, he will raise his self-esteem. What is not a bonus?
But some interesting math problems cannot always be sufficiently motivating. Come up with new tricks. For example, put 11 candies in a vase and invite the child to count them. Then the following will follow: leave ten, and if there are more of them, you can eat the extra ones. He would have gotten candy anyway. And here he showed a mathematical approach, and at the same time, the correct solution to the problem will be associated with pleasant emotions.
Do I need a tutor?
Unfortunately, the quality of education in modern schools leaves much to be desired. Therefore, sometimes you have to resort to the help of a tutor. But try to do this only in extreme cases - if possible, try to help the child yourself. After all, you yourself once studied this science and remember something from the school course. This is an occasion to spend an extra 10-15 minutes a day with a child, strengthen relationships, and at the same time show: parents will always come to the aid in difficult times.
Expand Your Horizons
Some parents blindly follow instructions, tutorials, and expert advice. For example, after learning that to enter elementary school you need to be able to count to 10, they reach this mark and calm down. But after all, children often wake up an interest in learning new things. So why not continue your individual math education? Continue pushing the boundaries of the famous, accustom the child to this. It is this approach that allows you to develop most quickly, comprehend new things and, as a result, increase your own self-esteem, achieve all your goals.
Is freedom permissible in mathematics?
Today, among the upbringing and education of children, pluralism is very popular. There are many opinions, and the more they differ from the classic, the more in demand. It suddenly turns out that the best math teacher in the city will be able to instill in your child love and talent in this science without cramming and tedious solution of examples. Of course, some parents peck at it.
And subsequently almost always great disappointment. It suddenly turns out that it is strict discipline and cramming that will achieve a better result than free attendance and cherished individual freedom.
Yes, mathematics is a strict science. And in it 2 x 2 always equals 4. She will not tolerate any other points of view. If you don’t like this approach, then you should not rack your brains trying to figure out how your child will like mathematics. So it is better to adhere to the same training scheme, which has always brought excellent results for many centuries. It was such a school that gave rise to many great mathematicians, and not free education and giving the child the opportunity to decide which laws of science to observe and which not.
Keeping the mind clear in old age
We talked a lot about the benefits of mathematics for children. But for the elderly, this benefit is no less. Everyone knows that with age, the mind becomes less flexible and faster - memory and sharpness of thinking are lost. However, teachers of mathematics never fall into insanity, very rarely suffer from sclerosis. The fact is that their brain is constantly working. He does not live according to standard patterns worked out over decades of his life, and all the time he is looking for new ways to solve problems.
So to repeat the school curriculum, and then delve into the abyss of mathematics in adulthood, is a wonderful hobby that will be of great benefit, and, perhaps, damn it, and world fame - this science still holds many secrets and unsolved problems.
Can adults love mathematics?
Consider this issue. It is difficult for an adult who did not like this science in childhood to prove that mathematics is simple. And yet it is quite possible. True, you have to start with the very basics - arithmetic and simple equations. Of course, this can be skipped in a matter of days, and then delve into those areas that seemed boring and incomprehensible in childhood. True love for mathematics does not always come. However, the fact that you can better understand numbers, make calculations faster and, as a result, in just a few months will become a more versatile person, is undeniable.
Conclusion
On this our article comes to an end. In it, we tried to tell you how to love mathematics at different ages, as well as about exactly what benefits it can bring to children and elderly people. Let's hope that after reading the article you will take a different look at science, which caused so many troubles in childhood, and you can love it with all your heart. Or at least instill such love in your children.