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