Act it Out!

It can be very hard to convince someone to keep trying things that come unnaturally to them or are hard to do. It is even harder to get them to keep trying after they mess up. One way to make thinking in a mathematical way more comfortable is to play the role of a character whose job it is to think in these ways.

If children see examples of scientists, doctors, mathematicians, or even just watch children doing experiments, they may want to act them out. Children may be more comfortable thinking this way if they are trying to be a different character or role. If we dress children up like these people and act out situations like a doctor’s visit, it may be easier for the children to think in ways that require problem solving. This re-enacting helps children think in mathematical ways for fun which can transfer to other areas of life.

It is also important to talk through and model the problem solving process with your children. If children see a person they look up to sticking with difficult situations, thinking about what to do, and trying multiple times to solve a problem until it is fixed, they are more likely to use these strategies in the future.