5 Ways to Help Your Child with Math This Summer

Many families worry about “summer slide” or wonder how to help their child feel more prepared (and confident) for math when school starts again. The good news is that supporting mathematical thinking does not have to feel like recreating school at home. In fact, some of the most meaningful math learning happens in low-pressure moments when children are exploring ideas naturally.

Here are five things you can do this summer to help your child head into the fall feeling more confident, capable, and willing (and maybe even more excited?!) to engage with math.

1. Point Out Math in Everyday Life

One of the most powerful things we can do is help children see that math exists beyond worksheets and classrooms.

Talk about numbers, shapes, time, distance, patterns, and comparisons naturally throughout the day:

• “Do we have enough strawberries for everyone?”

• “Which container holds more?”

• “How much longer until we get there?”

• “Which line looks shorter?”

• “How could we split these crackers fairly?”

  
  

These kinds of conversations help children develop number sense and mathematical reasoning in meaningful contexts. They also help kids begin to see themselves as people who do math in everyday life.

If you want more ideas for natural math conversations, we shared several examples in our post on Math Talk and Building Number Sense. 

2. Use Games to Build Math Thinking at Home

Games are one of our favorite ways to support mathematical thinking because they build important skills while keeping the focus on connection and play.

Card games, board games, puzzles, dice games, and logic games can support:

• number sense

• strategy

• flexible thinking

• problem-solving

• perseverance

And importantly, games often feel lower pressure than traditional math practice.

Even simple games like War, Uno, Yahtzee, or Go Fish involve mathematical reasoning.

Children compare quantities, notice patterns, make predictions, and think strategically — all skills that support future math learning.

We shared several family-friendly game ideas in our posts on card games that build math skills and Would You Rather math questions. We’ve also got even more games (along with toy and book ideas too!) in our gift guide.

3. Give Kids More Wait Time When They’re Thinking

When children are thinking through a math idea, it can feel tempting to jump in quickly with help or an explanation. But understanding and confidence often grow when children have time to make sense of ideas themselves.

Sometimes children simply need a little longer to process. We know it can be challenging and sometimes we think we’re waiting when we’re really not. One strategy that can help is silently counting to 30 before stepping in. That pause can give children space to:

• organize their thinking

• try a strategy

• notice a pattern

• build persistence

When children experience themselves figuring something out, even partially, it can have a powerful impact on their confidence.

4. Help Kids See Mistakes as Part of Learning Math

Contrary to popular belief (or how they might make us feel), mistakes are not signs that learning has failed. They are a normal and important part of how learning happens.

Research on learning and the brain suggests that our brains actually grow more when we make mistakes and reflect on them than when we immediately get something correct.

Helping children understand this can shift how they experience challenges in mathematics.

When children feel safe making mistakes, they are often more willing to:

• participate

• try new strategies

• explain their thinking

• persist through difficulty

This is one reason we care so much about helping children develop a growth mindset in mathematics. 

5. Focus Less on Speed in Math Learning

Many adults grew up believing that being “good at math” meant being fast. But speed is not the same thing as mathematical understanding.

This summer, try celebrating things like:

• noticing patterns

• explaining thinking

• trying a different strategy

• asking questions

• sticking with a challenge

Giving children the time they need supports both their confidence and their mathematical development.

In fact, rushing can sometimes increase anxiety and reduce opportunities for deep thinking. We talked more about this in our post on common math myths, including the myth that speed equals mathematical ability. 

Help Your Child with Math this Summer and Build their Confidence

The goal of engaging with math in the summer is not to turn summer into school or to push children faster academically.

Instead, summer can be a valuable opportunity to help children:

• see math as part of everyday life

• develop confidence in their thinking

• build positive associations with mathematics

• experience math in playful and meaningful ways

Those experiences matter deeply when children return to school in the fall.

If you are looking for additional support, our summer math guides were designed to help families support mathematical thinking in engaging,fun, low-pressure ways. The guides are organized by grade level and give you:

➡️ A flexible 10-week menu of activities - pick what works for your schedule each week (do more one week, less another- you choose!)

➡️ Quick 10-20 minute activities without elaborate set-ups designed for real families with busy summers

➡️ Clear explanations of "new math" concepts so you understand what your child is learning

➡️ QR codes linking to video support when you need extra help 

➡️ Games and activities your family can use all summer and beyond

Keep Learning with Us!

We have lots more resources so that you can support your child in becoming excited, confident, capable doers of mathematics. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube to stay up to date! @MathHappinessProject. You can also Browse our full collection of printable math games and resources at the Math Happiness Project.