Three Reasons Math Will Help Your Child Make Better Decisions

At Mathnasium of Teaneck, we know our students will see better test scores, grades, and an uptick in their own confidence. But did you know that practicing math can help a child make better decisions? Here are three reasons why math learners are good decision-makers:

1. Math builds critical thinking skills. Rather than just memorizing an answer, critical thinking involves understanding what problem needs solving, and the best way to solve it. (That’s a skill we use both inside and outside of the classroom, right?) Math also teaches us how to accurately consider outcomes using data. Having real quantitative research, like the kind we learn in statistics, creates clear data to base our decisions on. For example, if I know that 94% of students enrolled in Mathnasium see an increase in their math skills and understanding, then I can make a pretty clear deduction that it will help my student too.

2. Math teaches us about Attitude. Elizabeth, a 3rd grade student enrolled in Mathnasium says, "It should be called Attitud-asium!" We know that having a good attitude about math directly affects how kids perform. Stanford University recently conducted a study on attitude and Math: “Attitude is really important,” said Lang Chen, Ph.D., the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral scholar in psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “Based on our data, the unique contribution of positive attitude to math achievement is as large as the contribution from IQ."

3. Lastly, practicing Math builds confidence. What happens when a student is faced with a difficult math concept, say, multiplying equations, and after hours of practice and study-help, that student learns to master the concept? (Confidence. That's what happens.) Confidence that when another tricky problem arises, he/she will be able to conquer it too.

All in all, practicing math is a great way to build decision-making skills. Here’s what Skyline University College has to say about it:

“Mathematics serves to evaluate and improve the quality of information in the face of uncertainty, to present and clarify options, to model available alternatives and their consequences, and even to control the smaller decisions necessary to reach a larger goal.”

If you are near Teaneck, New Milford, Bogota, River Edge and want to try Mathnasium of Teaneck, please call us today 201-862-1600. We can’t wait to meet you! Sign up now for a Risk-Free Assessment!