Thread: math problems of a child

Hey guys.. please help me, because I'm desperate.
I have a 14 year old son, that has math problems. it's just math, all the other subject are better than fine. he has no concentration problems or ADHD or all kinds of this stuff. he just hates it, and doesn't want to put any effort in it. I tried some private teachers, even the most "talented" and expensive, none of them helped. I know how much mathematical eduction is important today, and it is important for me that he will at least gradutae this subject.
Some friend of mine had told me that I should find a way to make him like it, and see the fun in it.
Any ideas?

Thanks, SG

Originally Posted by shgidi

Hey guys.. please help me, because I'm desperate.
I have a 14 year old son, that has math problems. it's just math, all the other subject are better than fine. he has no concentration problems or ADHD or all kinds of this stuff. he just hates it, and doesn't want to put any effort in it. I tried some private teachers, even the most "talented" and expensive, none of them helped. I know how much mathematical eduction is important today, and it is important for me that he will at least gradutae this subject.
Some friend of mine had told me that I should find a way to make him like it, and see the fun in it.
Any ideas?

Thanks, SG

Umm, it looks like you can afford it.

There must be gazillions of kids just like your son who hate Math. No ammount of nudging or sweet-talking will change their first impressiom on Math.

So why not try other means.

Like if his dream is to become the President of your country someday, then tell him he cannot be a President if he cannot finish his studies or schoolings.

Many more like that.

Or, bait him with two iPhone 3G's now. "If you so much as show interest on your Math, we will go to Mac and you can choose two of the best-looking iPhone in there..."

If he does not like the iPhone yet, how about an Alienware gaming computer?

Anything to entice him to even just pretend he is liking Math now.

Who knows, his Math might rub on him by accident.

Peace, Boss.

haha, ticbol's post made me laugh, but he has a point. offering incentives is one way to go.

also, there are a lot of "games" out there, video games and computer games and such, that are learning games. you can buy one of the math ones. is your child too old for things like that.

you may also want to do some research. what is the use of math? it seems to bother a lot of students that they have to do math, in spite of the fact that it seems useless. they believe math won't help them in real life, and so, they are not interested in it. show him what math can do, and where you can go with a good background in math (and science).

also, make sure your child knows that you want him to get ahead in math because it will give him an edge. you don't want to force him to become a math professor or anything, but every school requires its students to have a certain level of proficiency in math. so it is not that you are not considering his dreams or aspirations, but you want to give him an edge, so that no matter what those dreams are, he can have a better chance of attaining them.

also, maybe consider hiring a different class of tutor. maybe the "most talented and expensive" carry a certain air around them, which is often the case. they seem to be on some other level that you can't relate to. get him to learn math with people more on his level, or slightly higher. ask him if he wants to hang out on places like here. math forums are laid back, we also have areas here to be laid back and talk to people. learning in a non-threatening environment is often very beneficial and a lot more fun.