From fractions to decimals, math concepts can be daunting for children at any age. However, as parents, you can help your child feel more confident in their math skills by introducing them to percentages and showing them that they’ll use it in all aspects of their lives – not only in math class.
By exploring the world around them and taking a closer look at daily situations, children can start to see how percentages are an essential part of almost everything they do – from buying groceries with discounts and understanding interest rates on savings accounts, percentage literacy is essential for becoming financially literate.
Today, we’ll go into why learning about percentages is so important for your child’s development – and explore some easy ways that kids can learn about percentiles right from everyday life!
Where To Find Examples
Shopping
We are bombarded with advertisements that boast discounts and sales whenever we shop. However, it can be difficult for children to understand the actual value of these discounts. This is where percentages come in handy.
For example, if a toy is on sale for 20% off its original price of $10, children can use percentage calculations to determine the new price. 20% of $10 equals $2, so the new price would be $8. This skill can help children understand the true value of a discount and make informed purchasing decisions.
Baking
Getting children involved in baking is another great way to help teach them percentages. They will be more likely to want to participate since there is a delicious reward at the end! Whether doubling a recipe or converting between metric and imperial measurements, percentages can help make the process smoother when following a recipe. Have your child help you read the recipe while following along to make sure they understand the measurements.
For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of flour, you could ask them to double the recipe. So, they would need to use 200% of the original amount. This means they would need to use 2 cups of flour. Understanding percentages can also help children convert units of measurement, such as converting 50 grams to ounces or 1 litre to millilitres.
Sports
Sports are full of percentage-based statistics that can be used to track progress and compare performance. Children who play sports or follow professional teams can quickly see that percentages are used when talking about statistics.
For example, if a basketball player makes 5 out of 10 free throws, they have a shooting percentage of 50%. Similarly, a baseball player with a batting average of .300 has a success rate of 30%.
These statistics can help children understand the importance of consistency and help them set goals for improvement in their own sport. Once they know how important percentages are in sports, they will quickly want to learn more about them!
Finance
The age of the child may determine how far into finance you can get, but it is never too early to start learning about money! Understanding percentages is essential for financial literacy. From calculating interest rates to understanding credit card debt, percentages play a crucial role in managing money.
For example, if a credit card has an interest rate of 18%, children can use percentage calculations to determine how much interest they would owe on a $100 purchase over the course of a year. 18% of $100 equals $18, so they would owe $118 in total. This skill can help children make informed financial decisions and avoid debt as they become adults.
Probability
Mathematics can be a daunting subject for many young students, but the topic of probability offers an exciting opportunity to explore the world of numbers and statistics. Understanding probability not only builds a foundation for more complex math concepts but also has practical applications in everyday life, such as predicting the likelihood of certain outcomes.
For example, if a coin is flipped, there is a 50% chance that it will land on heads and a 50% chance that it will land on tails. Similarly, if a die is rolled, there is a 16.67% chance that it will land on any given number.
Many children enjoy learning about probability because it involves games, challenges, and real-life scenarios that spark their curiosity. By incorporating probability into math lessons, educators and parents can create a fun and engaging learning experience that helps children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Providing Real-Life Examples
According to recent research, providing real-life examples can make all the difference when it comes to learning math. Rather than simply memorizing equations and math concepts, children can better grasp the practical applications of math when they see it at work in the world around them. Whether it’s measurements in a recipe, calculations for taxes, or geometrical shapes in architecture, these everyday scenarios offer a tangible context for math that students can readily connect with. By bringing math to life in this way, educators and parents can help students retain knowledge more effectively and develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the subject itself.
At Dropkick Math Academy, our approach to teaching mathematics is to make it both enjoyable and relatable for children. We believe that learning math should not be a daunting task but rather an exciting adventure. Through the use of real-life examples, we help our learners understand and appreciate the importance of math in their everyday lives.
Our game-based learning platform is designed to help children develop math literacy and increase self-confidence in their ability to tackle math problems. At Dropkick Math Academy, we are passionate about providing a positive and engaging experience for every child to learn math.
Learn more about our math learning techniques and how we stand out from other math tutoring companies today!
