Barnett Wood Infant School
How to help your child at home
Reading and Phonics
Please see our English subject page for tips on reading with your child:
Visit our Phonics and Early Reading page for information about our phonics scheme Little Wandle Letters and Sounds:
Maths
Maths is all around us. We all use elements of maths every day without even realising it. There are many ways we can engage children in maths and develop your child’s mathematical understanding both at school and at home. Try to make maths as much fun as possible - games, puzzles and jigsaws are a great way to start.
It's also important to show how we use maths skills in our everyday lives and to involve your child in this. Identifying problems and solving them can also help your child develop maths skills. If you see him or her puzzling over something, talk about the problem and try to work out the solution together.
Don't shy away from maths if you didn’t like it at school. Try to find new ways to enjoy the subject with your child.
Top tips for parents
- Be positive about maths. Try not to say things like "I can’t do maths" or "I hated maths at school" - your child may start to think like that themselves.
- Point out the maths in everyday life. Include your child in activities involving numbers and measuring, such as shopping, cooking and travelling.
- Praise your child for effort rather than for being "clever". This shows them that by working hard they can always improve.