For many people, math is something to be avoided, dreaded, and farmed out to someone else. Many of s struggled through math in school with the fuzzy question, "When am I ever going to use this stuff?" It’s hard to imagine, as a young person, what purpose math could ever actually serve in life.

But it does serve a purpose. As adults we know that logical thinking, problem solving, and even basic addition and subtraction are necessary in everyday life. And so, to our horror, we find ourselves urging and prodding our own children to work harder at math. Because it matters.

You want our kids to be good at math, but how do you help them? Try these ideas to help your child.

Make it Fun, Make it Relaxed

If math is something your child has already learned to hate, it’s time to pull back a little and find a way to make it fun. I know, I know, you’re already struggling and crying over daily math homework, but if you as the parent can adjust your attitude just a little, it can go a long way towards helping your child. Instead of focusing so intently on getting every answer right, try laughing over how silly the questions are. Try drawing out pictures on a separate sheet of paper to get a visual of what the problem is really asking, and while you’re drawing, make silly monsters or crazy-haired old men as the characters. Take turns reading the problems in silly voices. Add a yummy snack - maybe a pile of M&M’s, and every time a problem is solved, you both get to eat one. It’s easy to fall into a pattern of becoming intense and worried over math homework, especially when your child gets older and has more and more to do. Make sure your child is comfortable asking for your help. Don’t yell or act frustrated when your child doesn’t understand. He’s already frustrated; he doesn’t need your disappointment to add to it. Just gently laugh, cozy up, and try to solve the problems together.

Don’t Do it For Them

As a teacher, I am always amazed to find that parents will often, out of frustration, just go ahead and do their kids’ homework. Some of them don’t even bother to disguise their adult handwriting! I ask you, how is that helping your child learn? It may save you some time now, but how will your child advance in the subject if he doesn’t learn the basics now?

Never do your child’s homework. It’s better to write the teacher a note saying, "We didn’t understand this. Can you help?" or even, "Because of baseball and soccer and church, we couldn’t finish the homework before Junior fell asleep. Can we have another day?" The answer may be no, but at least it’s honest.

Teach Personal Finance

One area of math sadly lacking in schools today is personal finance. Your child may graduate knowing all about quadratic equations but without a clue as to how to balance a checkbook or manage a credit card. So, parents, it falls to you, and you must do it before your child leaves for college or work. Teach your child about interest rates, checking, investing, bill-paying, and keeping good credit. If you don’t, your child will have to learn the hard way and you may all pay in the end.

How do you teach personal finance? It’s really not that hard. Just let your child help you out. Let him fill out part of the check you’re writing. Show her a bill or two and explain what they are. But don’t show all your bills - no need to worry the poor kid. The purpose is to teach, not scare! You can also give your child a little bit of money to put into the stock market, just for fun. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but the experience will be invaluable.

Sneak Math into Your Day

There are many, many ways to sneak math into your daily lives, thereby helping your child learn. Here are a few:

• Go shopping. Try to figure out how much something will be at 20% off. How much will the tax be? Do you have enough money? How much will be left over?

• Cook together. Try doubling or halving recipes with your child, and let him figure out the correct measurements. This is a tricky way to learn about multiplying and dividing fractions.

• Get gas. Let your child help you find the cheapest place to get gas. Figure out how much the gas will cost together (multiplication!).

• Count calories. Keep a food log for your family and add up the calories or fat grams.

• Build or sew something. You’ll have to take precise measurements and angles. You’ll need an exact amount of materials. And you have the added benefit of the physical work and finished product!

• Get involved in or watch sports. What better way to learn about statistics!

• Play games. Most games have some sort of point system. Let your child be the scorekeeper. Some great ones are Monopoly (and let her be the banker), Scrabble (and he adds up the points and keeps score), or card games in which you have to bid and keep track of the points, like Rook or Spades.

• Look in the library for books of riddles or logic games. It’s a great way to encourage your child to problem solve.

Give Up the Control

At some point, your child is going to have to learn to do his or her homework alone. While you should still check it and make sure the answers are correct, stop hovering while he’s working. If he asks for help, fine, then give it. Be available, but not overbearing.

If you find that each and every night you are getting into fights and tantrums with your child over math homework, it’s time to throw in the towel and ask for help. Either hire a tutor or find a friend (or spouse!) to take over the homework help job, even for a few days. Sometimes a fresh perspective is all it takes.

Finally, just know that learning math is like anything. It takes practice, practice, practice. If your child has a hard time with one concept, don’t yell or cajole or act disappointed. Don’t accuse your child of not listening. Sometimes math really is hard to understand, and sometimes children just have trouble grasping certain concepts. That’s okay. Tell your child (and yourself) that mastery will come, that it just takes time. You and your child can do it!