| To put it in a nice way, my son is rather squirmy. He | | | | with any number of shooting attempts and have them |
| doesn't like to sit still for very long unless he's playing a | | | | answer quickly before they shoot again. |
| video game, then it's just amazing. So instead of | | | | 3. Another way to play is to ask them to shoot 10 |
| constantly telling him to sit down and do his math, we | | | | baskets and figure out the fraction of made shots to |
| take it outside or up the stairs, literally. I'd like to share | | | | total shots. Next, have them reduce their fraction, and |
| some of ways we like to "do math" when sitting still is | | | | then turn their fraction into a percentage. They should |
| too much. Try these games with your child and I think | | | | do this in their head, or if they need to write it down, |
| you'll agree that math and exercise can go hand in | | | | you can supply sidewalk chalk or pencil and paper for |
| hand. | | | | some quick figuring. |
| Stair Math Math flash cards are usually pretty boring. | | | | Interactive Story Problems A little imagination on your |
| What you can do for your active child is put a card on | | | | part, plus a stopwatch, makes this one fun! You make |
| each step going up your stairs and then along the hall | | | | up the story problem and your children act it out. Here |
| and into another room. Place these every foot or two. | | | | are some examples: |
| Some kids like to be timed, so get out your stopwatch | | | | If [your child's name] runs from the mailbox to the back |
| and yell "go!" My son will race up the stairs as quickly | | | | fence in [however long it takes him in seconds], and |
| as he can while shouting out the answers. He makes it | | | | [another child's name] runs the same path in [however |
| to his room and jumps on his bed in triumph. You can | | | | long it takes her in seconds], how many minutes were |
| do this game several times. | | | | spent running this route by both of them altogether? |
| Flash Card Toss This math game works particularly | | | | If [name] threw the ball [measure in inches] and [Mom] |
| well at our house because we have an open area at | | | | threw the ball 9 inches less than that, how far did your |
| the top of the stairs that looks down on the family | | | | amazing Mom throw? |
| room. Actually, anywhere in your house or outside will | | | | You are going to time your child skipping, running, |
| do, and it's great for a child who has a lot of pent up | | | | hopping, running backwards, race walking, and running |
| energy! Take a flash card and fling it as far as you | | | | on all fours. But first, let him or her rank the order in |
| can. Have your child run after it, pick it up, solve it, and | | | | which they think they will do these, from fastest to |
| race back to you. You can do this until either the kid | | | | slowest and estimate their times. Then time them and |
| runs out of steam or you injure your throwing arm. | | | | compare with their estimate. |
| Shoot 10 Baskets There are many variations to this | | | | After that, you can make up all sorts of story |
| game and you can adjust it to fit your child. You can | | | | problems: |
| play with an actual basketball hoop or wadded up | | | | How much faster did you skip than hop? |
| pieces of paper shooting at the trash can. | | | | How many minutes total did it take you to do all of |
| 1. Have your child shoot 10 baskets and keep track of | | | | them? |
| how many they make. Do this in series of 10s, as | | | | Which is faster - running and running backwards vs. |
| many times as you want. Next, show the scores to | | | | race walking and hopping? |
| your child and have them figure out his average per 10 | | | | These games are just a start in practicing math with |
| baskets he/she has made. | | | | your active child. I'm sure you can think of quite a few |
| 2. This game requires quick thinking. Ask your child to | | | | more once you get started. One thing is for sure, after |
| shoot 10 baskets and then ask him/her to tell you the | | | | playing these math games, they're ready to sit down |
| ratio of missed baskets to baskets shot, or the ratio of | | | | and do some passive reading! |
| made baskets to missed baskets. You can do this | | | | |