5 FUN HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES WITH MATH!

With the kids out of school for the holidays, every parent knows the last thing any kid wants to do is a math worksheet. So how can you keep your student’s math skills sharp this holiday season? Easy! Show your kids how math is used in practical applications while going about your holiday activities. The following are 5 fun examples.

• BAKING: Bring your child into the kitchen with you and whip up your family’s favorite holiday treats! Read recipes out loud together and familiarize young learners with fractions and units of measurement.     
• GAMES: Playing games is a great way to experience math in a fun and low-pressure environment and practice a variety of math skills and strategy. Set up family game nights, play mental math games in the car, and grab an extra controller when your kids sit down to play video games!
• SHOPPING: Set a shopping budget and ask your child to help you find gifts that maximize the budget. Holiday sales and discounts present great opportunities to explore percentages and demonstrate how math can help you make smart consumer decisions and make every penny count!
• TRAVEL: Heading off to visit the relatives tops the list of many family holiday activities, so include your child in the planning. Have them help make a schedule, plan a route on a map, or even get involved in bus, train or other public transportation decision making if they’re older!
• DECORATIONS: Introduce younger kids to geometry by exploring basic shapes found in seasonal decorations. Make beautiful paper snowflakes together and explore symmetry. Use measurement and estimation to get a sense of how many decorations you need for the perfect touch of holiday flair!