Summer is half way through and as your child gets ready to go back to school in September, it might be a good idea to help them sharpen their math skills.

During summer, kids often forget math computational skills that they learned the previous year. So, it’s a good time to help them regain their memory.

Here are a few tips on how to weave some fun into a math review:

Problem Solving:

Have your child solve everyday math problems, such as:

• If each candy bar costs $1.29 then how much do 3 candy bars cost?
• How old will I be when you turn 18?
• How old will you be in the year 2050?
• If I were to give you $50 to spend and you had to buy two gifts, one for $15 and the other for $22, then how much money would you have left over?

Money:

• Count the money in the piggy bank
• Write out fake checks
• Make towers of quarters and dimes and guess how much money there is in each tower
• Let them pay and check the change wherever you go

Math Facts:

• Ask them the times tables on a random car ride and offer a treat (maybe ice cream) if they get them mostly right
• Use pizzas, pies, cookies and cakes to review fractions
• Get a math facts placemat for the dinner table

Digital Practice:

• Mathisfun.com
• Fun4thebrain.com
• Maths Bingo app
• Virtual Manipulatives app

Kinesthetic Learners:

• Use clay or Legos
• Use sand and water to demonstrate volume
• Use grapes, oranges or any other fruit or vegetable to count, divide or multiply

And of course, there’s the old lemonade stand, which will help your child boost mathematical, measuring and money management skills.

All is takes is a few minutes everyday to practice math facts to ensure an easy transition into the next school year. Start today.