We all need math, whether we are making financial decisions on how much to save to be able to buy our first home or deciding on the golf club you would need to play the next golf shot, asking yourself, what distance or loft do I need to get my next shot to land on the putting green? This does not leave out children, either. Here are some of the reasons children need math.
Developing critical thinking skills
Children are naturally curious; they ask a lot of questions, which helps them develop their critical-thinking skills, which they need throughout their lives. How better can they continue to foster this essential life skill than by frequently analysing a math problem and finding alternative solutions to arrive at a logical solution?
Help children develop perseverance
Life is full of ups and downs. Most of the challenges children face come from learning, and sometimes that can be difficult, whether it is learning how to swim or facing challenges learning an algebra concept. Therefore, learning a growth mindset is important for children to understand that failure is part of the learning process. Perseverance in the face of challenges to achieving success is one of the skills children learn from learning math.
Healthy brain development and function
Research published in the Journal of Neuroscience shows that doing even a simple cognitive task like solving math problems improves healthy brain development in children.
Open opportunities for high-demand careers
Irrespective of the type of career your children choose, math skills will be beneficial. A growing number of the fastest-growing career opportunities are heavy on math skills. Math is a critical skill children need to prepare for a successful career and become engaged citizens to tackle the world’s challenges.