What ways would you suggest to make mathematics interesting for children?

There were many local flavoured folk songs which entertained and taught basic lessons and even higher level lessons. Those songs were having references to the mythological stories and characters, those visible objects and experience everyone get in daily life.
As the songs have rhyme and rhythm children get attracted to them and learn them easily. This gets recoded in their mind and at every context they have the easy recall.

For example one song teaching numbers was like ' we have two eyes, coconut has three eyes, a cot has four legs, the Pandavas are five persons'. etc. etc. ending as Ravana has ten heads. Alternatives are those telling about our organs or that of our pet animals, common birds etc. Similarly there were songs for learning tables.

I was brought up in my maternal grandparents till I completed my primary school classes. I was taught the basics of mathematics for my early classes by my maternal grandmother who had never attended a school. She taught me by reciting songs and narrating stories. She was almost like a fast computer then as she was able to mental arithmetic calculations. She used to test me by asking random questions on numbers ascending and descending order, addition, subtraction and multiplication tables.

All this she used to do while doing her domestic work and also while on our way to the river for bathing.
She used the 'Manjaadikkuru'(Lucky Red seeds) and 'Kunnikkuru'(Kundumani or rosary pea or Jequirity) seeds to help learn numbers and basic calculations.

In modern times the abacus is used by some coaching people and also Vedic Maths.

The best method is to mix teaching (learning) and playing in such a blend that learning Maths becomes entertaining and easy.

Mathematics is a very interesting subject once the students start understanding its basic concepts. But the main problem in learning mathematics is that initially it appears as a very dry subject. If we want students to take interest in mathematics then one of the most common and effective ways is to teach them some mathematical games, puzzles, and brain teasers. Children have an inherent and natural interest for puzzles, games and things of that sort.
Let me give some examples though the list of such amusing things would be endless.
1. Let me ask a student to imagine a number and multiply it by 2 and add 8 and divide the result by 2. Now I would ask him to subtract the imagined number from it and before he tells me anything I tell the final result as 4.
The student might get surprised but when we explain the simple Mathematics behind it, he would be happy to learn that and would start feeling that Mathematics is also a fun activity.
2. This is an interesting game in which two variables are solved using only one equation. I would ask the student to think of a family and multiply the number of boys by 2 and add 5 to it. Let him multiply the result by 5 and then add number of girls and tell the result. Suppose the student tells me that he got 47 on hearing which I immediately tell him that there are 2 boys and 2 girls in the family. He might be impressed but when we tell him the simple logic of finding the two unknowns taking advantage of the fact that boys and girls are whole numbers then he will get the point.

We should encourage the students to go through the various puzzles and brain teasers which are published in the magazines, periodicals, and various sites in internet. Once the student gets exposed to all those things it is natural that Mathematics will appear to him as an interesting subject.

1. Instead of teaching in absolute figures and making the students practice, one should give questions to the student which will make them think and use their mathematical knowledge in answering those questions. Instead of asking the student what will be the answer if 3 is multiplied by 5 if you ask him how much it will cost for him to buy three bananas if one banana costs Rs.5/-. These questions will make them think and discuss among themselves and that may make them interested in mathematics.

2. Teach students maths and make it fun for them to practice mathematics. If we ask a student to answer a question, he will get stressed. But when they are asked to play, they will come out of that stress. By playing games, students often forget to worry. There are some games which will teach the students basic mathematics. Making students play those games will make a lot of difference. Students will see that exploring something new can be fun for them and they will get interested in that subject.

3. Adapting new technology, by carefully choosing them, can help students in inculcating interest. Some online math programs and tools will be very useful to the students in developing an interest in maths. If the logic involved is taught to the student, it will become very interesting to the student.

4. The teacher's involvement in teaching the subject to the student will also develop an interest in the student. The teacher should not make the lesson monotonous. He has to explain the process with good examples and showing many online models available will make the student get interested in the subject.

It is normal in almost all students of any class that the mathematics, History are bore subjects. For College students Economics is a bore subject. These are the words usually uttered by students.
In those days the mathematics tables were taught by teachers in the form of song. 'Oru kudam thanni oothinen rendu poo poothathathu, rendu kudam thanni oothinen naalu poo pooththathu....' This means two flowers I got for one pot water pour, four flowers I got for two pot water pour.... Children playfully sung the song when returning from school and thereby the tables are got bi-heartened.
Even in college, our professor took Marketing subject with many examples which we can see day by day so that the topics are in our mind even today. In one class our professor explained about the 'hawkers and paddlers' with some practical example. This was in the year 1976 but I remembered the same by seeing some sellers doing like that on the road in the year 2022.

Mathematics learning would not create any problem with the child if the guide or the parents themselves take interest in their process of learning. We must apply the following tips to create interest within the mind frame of the child. The tips are indicated below-
1) Be a role model while teaching Mathematics to the kids -
Simply telling child to go through the text book of Mathematics would panic the child if he/ she lacks interest in the subject. Rather, you should change the attitude of the child towards Mathematics learning. As for example, you can ask the child to count the coins or notes without giving any assistance at the first instance and in case he errs, help him to learn with your patience. Your attention and love during the process of learning would motivate the child to learn fast.
2) Help should come from parents in the learning process of Mathematics at the initial stage-
You should ensure that the child solves the mathematical problems independently outside the school. Time to time ask the child how much it would take to cover the distance of 10 km if the speed of the scooter is 20 km/ hour. or any question striking in your mind if his class standard. Repeated such sessions will create interest in the child,
3) Be prepared to help the child in the midst of his confusion with the suitable examples-
If he is taught in the regular way regarding the his doubts, he is sure to do well in this subject since it will help the child for a better clarity in his approach.
4) Monitor the child homework assignment -
You must ensure that the child is comfortable in his class - work assignment. Explaining the different methods of solving of the same question would further arouse his interest towards this subject. Hence the parent should be a good mentor.
5) Hint out the ways of saving time - Tell your child to cram tables up to 50 so that in the process of calculations, he can save his timing. He must be conversant with the basic rules of Mathematics such as 1000 ^0 = 0 or 0^ 1000 = 0 if he is a student of a primary class.
6) Play games with the child in his leisure hours-
During the holidays, spare sometime for the child so that you can develop his interest in chess, dominoes, checkers,set, monopoly, cribbage etc. in the process of learning, he would apply his mathematical skills helping in his mathematical solving process.

Making mathematics interesting for children can be a challenge, but it is essential for their overall development. Here are some ways to make mathematics fun and engaging for kids:
1. Teaching maths with real life situations can make them more relatable and interesting. For example, teaching kids about money and how to make save money can be a fun way to learn about addition and subtraction.
2. Incorporating math into games and fun activities can make learning more enjoyable. For example, playing board games that involve counting, sorting, and measuring can be a great way to practice math.
3. Engaging kids in hands-on activities, such as building structures, measuring, etc can make math more enjoyable and fun to remember.
4. Using stories, rhymes, and songs to teach mathematical concepts can be a fun way for kids to learn. For example, a story about a character who needs to measure different objects to make a cake can be a great way to teach kids about measuring.
5. One can also use technology, such as educational apps and websites, to make learning math more interactive and engaging.

I have learned from various sources and experts that there are many ways to make mathematics interesting and engaging for children. Here are some of the most effective methods:

a) Use real-life examples: Children find it easier to understand concepts when they can relate them to real-life situations. You can use examples from daily life such as counting the number of apples in a basket or calculating the cost of groceries to make math more interesting.

b) Introduce math games: Games can make math fun and engaging for children. You can use math games such as Sudoku, Chess, and puzzles to help children learn math concepts while having fun.

c) Incorporate technology: Technology can be an excellent tool to make math more interesting. There are many math apps and websites available that offer fun and interactive ways to learn math concepts.

d) Use visual aids: Children often learn better when they can see the concepts visually. You can use graphs, charts, and diagrams to help children understand math concepts.

e) Make it a group activity: Children often enjoy learning in groups. You can encourage your child to work on math problems with their friends or siblings. This will not only make learning math more fun but also encourage teamwork and collaboration.

f) Provide positive feedback: It's important to provide positive feedback and encouragement to children when they make progress in math. This will help build their confidence and motivate them to continue learning.

g) Relate it to their interests: Children have different interests, and you can use these interests to make math more interesting. For example, if your child loves sports, you can use sports-related math problems to help them learn math concepts.

In summary, making mathematics interesting for children requires creativity, patience, and effort. By using the above methods, you can help your child develop an interest in math and build a strong foundation for their future academic success.