Math guidance for parents
Parenting is hard enough. Here's how to make math learning easier.
Raising a confident math kid
If your kid likes math, chances are they'll succeed in it. Here are some ways to make that happen.
- How to Make Math Fun for Kids: 20 Ideas for Parents When math feels like play, kids ask for more. Twenty easy ways to get there, starting tonight.
- Why Early Math Confidence Matters, and How to Build It A child who believes they can do math keeps trying. Here's how to give your child that belief early.
- How to Help Your Child Overcome Math Anxiety Tears at homework time don't mean your child can't do math. Here's how to help them feel safe again.
- How to Help With Math, Even If You're Not a Math Person You don't need to love math to raise a kid who does. You just need to be in their corner.
- Math Practice for Kids Who Struggle, Kids Who Are Ahead, and Kids Who Learn Differently Short sessions, the right level and a talk with the school: practical help whichever of these sounds like your child.
What the research says works
You want your child's math time to count. According to decades of research, here's what actually helps kids learn.
- What Research Says About Math Practice for Kids Shown how, lots of practice, quick feedback, steady review. What decades of studies agree on.
- What Is Direct Instruction in Math? Show, practice, feedback, review. What the term means and why researchers keep coming back to it.
- Why Math Fluency Matters Early, and How to Build It Facts at their fingertips leave room to think. Why fluency matters, and how to build it without tears.
- Why Kids Need Lots of Math Practice, With Feedback One lesson rarely sticks. Why many tries with quick, kind feedback is how kids really learn.
- The Best Way for Kids to Practice Math, According to Research Short and often, mixed up, and from memory. Small changes that make the same minutes count more.
- How Often Should My Child Practice Math? How much is enough, and how to limit screen time.
- How Our Math Videos Teach Short, one idea at a time, with questions along the way. The research behind every one of my lessons.
Choosing a math program
There are lots of programs out there. Here's how to decide what's best for your child.
- The 5 Best Math Programs for Kids (In-Person, Online & At-Home) Every family is different. Here's how to find the program your child will actually stick with.
- In-Person Math Tutoring vs. Bobby's Math Club Kumon, Mathnasium and RSM help a lot of kids. Here's which fits your family, and when.
- Kumon Alternatives for Kids Tutoring, classes, free online practice. Here's what each asks of your week, and how to choose.
- Free Alternatives to IXL for Elementary Math Free lessons, games and five-minute practice. Here's what each is like, and how to choose.
- Zearn Alternatives for Math Practice at Home Lessons, a challenge, or five minutes of practice. Here's what each is like, and how to choose.
- Prodigy Alternatives That Aren't a Video Game Calm practice, video lessons, or paper. Here's what each is like, and how to choose.
- Free Math Practice Programs for Kids, Ranked Great practice shouldn't depend on your budget. Here are the best free options, and what each does best.
- Best Free Math Practice for Pre-K: Worksheets, Games and Apps Free counting games, apps and activities for your preschooler, and how to pick what fits.
- Best Free Math Practice for Kindergarten: Worksheets, Games and Apps Free worksheets, games, apps and videos for your kindergartner, and how to pick what fits.
- Best Free Math Practice for 1st Graders: Worksheets, Games and Apps Free worksheets, games, apps and videos for your 1st grader, and how to pick what fits.
- Best Free Math Practice for 2nd Graders: Worksheets, Games and Apps Free worksheets, games, apps and videos for your 2nd grader, and how to pick what fits.
- Best Free Math Practice for 3rd Graders: Worksheets, Games and Apps Free worksheets, games, apps and videos for your 3rd grader, and how to pick what fits.
- Best Free Math Practice for 4th Graders: Worksheets, Games and Apps Free worksheets, games, apps and videos for your 4th grader, and how to pick what fits.
- Best Free Math Practice for 5th Graders: Worksheets, Games and Apps Free worksheets, games, apps and videos for your 5th grader, and how to pick what fits.
- Why Bobby's Math Club? The Comparison Matrix Every major option on one page, including the places we're not the right fit.
- Free Math Practice for Homeschoolers, Pre-K to 5th Grade A few minutes of practice beside your curriculum, a level for each child, and paper when you want it.
What Bobby's Math Club offers
From the first question to the last badge, here's what your child and you get.
- Math practice for all of elementary school One place that grows up with your child, so nothing starts over each September.
- Badges that celebrate your child's effort Celebrate your child's effort, with a certificate for the fridge.
- Hear every question Every question, hint and explanation can be read aloud, in a voice your child picks.
- If a question looks wrong, tell us A question you report comes out of practice right away and stays out until a person has read your note.
- See how your child is really doing Know where your child shines and where to focus next.
- Practice that turns mistakes into growth Kind feedback, a second chance, and a way to follow up on mistakes.
- Practice what your child is learning in class Find this week's skill in a few words, and practice just that.
- One club for the whole family A place for each child, and room for everyone who helps.
- Starting at just the right level Your child's first few sessions find their level in each area of math.
- How we measure growth What a level like “High 2nd Grade” means for your child.
Bobby's Math Club, side by side
Already looking at a program? See how it compares, so you can choose with confidence.
- Kumon vs. Bobby's Math Club Kumon builds discipline through daily worksheets. Here's how to tell which fits your child.
- Mathnasium vs. Bobby's Math Club A tutor can make a real difference. So can five calm minutes at home. Here's how to choose.
- Sylvan Learning vs. Bobby's Math Club A tutor can make a real difference. So can five calm minutes at home. Here's how to choose.
- Russian School of Math vs. Bobby's Math Club RSM is wonderful for the right child. Here's how to know if your child is ready, or needs confidence first.
- Khan Academy vs. Bobby's Math Club Two free options with different strengths. Here's which fits your child, and when to use both.
- IXL vs. Bobby's Math Club Your child may know IXL from school. Here's how it compares with free practice at home.
- Prodigy vs. Bobby's Math Club Your child loves video games. Here's how Prodigy compares with a calm five-minute habit.