Children & Math

How old is he? If he's close to my sons age I will look because I'm sure we will need them soon enough! My son started learning last year, in second grade, and had the hardest time because the teacher blew thru the lessons (first day brought home homework with all 1-12x problems then the next week it was on to division). Needless to say his motivation to do the lessons wasn't there, and I don't blame him!

My son is learning multiplication and division in school this year. He's the type of boy that just doesn't dig school, he digs sports and competition (if he wins, that is). I loved school and academics, so I'm struggling with his constant whine over homework and lack of desire to try and get decent grades. This is foreign territory to me.

So, any suggestions welcome, but what I'm really looking for are math games that might help and are somewhat challenging... we have:

PC/Laptop
Wii
Kindle Fire

So any games that might work on these devices or internet based, I'd love to hear about. Google brings back so many results it's hard to fish through.

I have workbooks, flashcards, and what-not, but I think a game might engage him a little more.

Most of us grew up at a time when we were simply handed the table, from 1 to 18 and were told, "Learn your 2s to 4s today and you'll be rewarded with x." For me my reward was in the form of one movie over the weekend. If I'd learnt 2 to 8 I'd get to choose 2 movies plus my chocolate and my cup-a-joy. Today it's a lot different. Adjustments and sensitivity with approach need to be taken into consideration, to suit the child.

I'm all for games except I've noticed that when a game is specifically designed for Learning it can sometimes borrow from the fun element. They're not designing them like they'd done with "Carmen Sandiego" or "Sail the Endeavour" for Geography say. It has to be fun, sporty and practical life learning in design for a young impressionable child to enjoy.

Does your son like cooking with you or does he like to make protein bars with you? You can involve him when you're making the big batches; Give him an overly simplified to serve one recipe and as you're working through, kind of throw it at him, "If you need this to serve 10 people how much more of x do you think we'll need to add?" I've noticed that boys prefer practical + sports Mathematics. I don't rightly know how into the Fantasy Sports or the Professional or College sports you and your husband are, but would either of you be willing to use Sporting averages and Games or even the Sports Video Games as a Learning Tool; As in customise it to him ~ His favourite sports, his favourite players, his favourite positions, his favourite plays, the players' earnings (inc forecast and starting, pre professional).

I wasn't so into American Sports when I'd arrived to understand "the Maths in the Game" element, but I'd had to with a friend's child, who was 7 at the time. I didn't use Sports but I'd used Zoo Tycoon and Park Tycoon. He loved the idea of taking over and besting his father's business ~ A mogul in-training as his Mum called him. Using the Wall Street Games for children was too complex at the time for him, so Zoo Tycoon + the Bionicles it was, where Bionicles was the treat + Ben-10 ROFL As he'd played the Game, I'd use his real time play screen and I'd shoot a Mathematics Question at him. Surprisingly, he knew the correct answer because he was relaxed and at ease enough with himself, in his comfort zone. And if you're going to use repetition for grounds yet to be covered, as in the foundations, the basics of Mathematics ~ Division & Multiplication, use rote but be creative each time, so he can remember, where he is not to feel academically-challenged because he is not; It's the approach to it in the classroom that has failed him. He is to not know that you're being rote about it, via your approach at repetition swot/cram-methods.

When you approach it using what they know and love, it'll work. He'll absorb it all ~ Parents make the best tutors.