Learning difficult math skills improves your children’s confidence in their ability to learn any difficult skill as well as their ability to problem solve in life. Feeling confident means you believe you are capable of doing something. Children who have experienced learning challenging math skills approach other learning with confidence. Confident learners have an advantage over insecure learners.
How Does this Happen?
Learning a difficult math skill, whether it is long division or calculus, gives children a personal connection to the saying “hard work pays off.” Overcoming a challenge, whether in math, sports or in music, requires a special blend of motivation, courage, grit, and a growth mindset.
The Special Blend for Overcoming a Learning Challenge and Increasing Confidence
1) Motivation
Motivating children is tricky. You want kids to feel intrinsically motivated, but they need some positive experiences for them to become motivated. If they are completely unmotivated in math, or in learning in general, a small extrinsic motivator might help. Small rewards entice kids to try an activity when they refuse to do it otherwise. For more information about motivation in math and other areas, read Where is your Child on the Motivational Ladder?
2) Courage
Repeatedly feeling like a “failure at learning” would make anyone feel insecure. Children with learning disabilities, like dyscalculia, often feel insecure or “dumb,” because they learn differently than others. Before these children experience a learning success, they usually must muster up the courage to accept help. If this describes your child, understand how to show empathy without excusing poor performance. Support your child in building the courage necessary to accept help.
3) Grit and Mindset
After having the motivation and courage to put forth effort, children must sustain this effort for months. This sustained effort is called perseverance or “grit.” They must also embrace mistakes and setbacks as part of the learning process and development of their mindset.
How Does Mathnasium of Parker Increase Confidence in a Child’s Ability to Learn?
Mathnasium of Parker teaches math skills at the rate of the child. If math at school is too easy for your child, it isn’t increasing their confidence in their ability to learn hard tasks. If math at school is too hard for your child, and they aren’t learning, it may actually erode their confidence in their ability to learn. Give your children the opportunity to increase their confidence so they can tackle difficult concepts and skills. Give us a call today. 303-840-1184.
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