The Power of Family Math

Math As A Family Bonding Experience

While we often think of math as a subject confined to schools, the power of math extends far beyond the walls of the classroom.  In everything we love from games to food to travel to music, math is deeply integrated into our daily lives.  

A recent trend in math education research has been the concept of Family Math.  Research studies have shown that parents regularly engaging in math talk or math activities with their kids, provides a major boost to their kids’ in-school math achievement.  Not only is this great from an educational standpoint, but doing math as a family can be fun too!

Family Math is all about making math an inclusive and interactive experience that transcends textbooks and tests. By engaging in math together, families can discover the joys of problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative exploration as a united team.  

In this blog post we highlight three great ways in which families can bond while doing math together using Tile Farm.

Mathematical Play in Tile Farm Playground

Tile Farm Playground has been designed to give people of all ages an engaging and creative mathematical experience.  With 16 daily activities, games, and puzzles across 7 difficulty levels, there is something appealing for everyone. Below are three of our favorite Family Math activities in Tile Farm Playground:

• Notice & Wonder–  Notice & Wonder is a set of 7 daily patterns in Tile Farm Playground meant to spark curiosity, wonder, and lively mathematical conversations. Studies have shown that families engaging in activities like Notice & Wonder does wonders for their children’s math achievement. 
• Play A Round Robin-  A great family math activity is to take turns completing activities, games, and puzzles in Tile Farm Playground while watching each other struggle, succeed, learn, and grow.  Whether it is with siblings, parents, grandparents, or other caregivers, watching each other learn is a valuable experience as it promotes empathy, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for each family member’s individual growth and progress.  
• Complete a Great 28-  A fun challenge for families is to try to complete a Great 28, where you complete all 7 difficulty levels for a game or puzzle in Tile Farm Playground. Not only is this fun, but it helps family members experience a continuity in math education from early childhood through adulthood.

Build Together in Tile Farm Studio

Tile Farm Studio is a perfect setting for informally playing with math.  Not only is it fun for people of all ages, but it also provides lots of opportunities for math talk.  Here are a few Tile Farm Studio activities perfect for families:

• Take Turns Building and Coloring–  Try taking turns building or coloring something in Tile Farm Studio and see where your collective creativity goes!  This activity encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity, while providing an opportunity for family members to develop empathy as they better understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. 
• Check out Lessons Section in Tile Farm Studio-  The Lessons section in Tile Farm Studio has short videos with tips and tricks building in Tile Farm Studio and using the app to learn math.  Check it out for inspiration and fun ideas.
• Come Up With Your Own Activities-  The open-ended nature of Tile Farm Studio allows for limitless opportunities for people to develop their own creative activities.  Maybe you’ll invent your own version of Pictionary, come up with a storytelling activity, or make something reflective of your family’s culture.  Whatever direction you choose, the sky is the limit! 

Make A Gift Together In Tile Farm Maker

Making a personalized gift for a friend or family member using Tile Farm Maker is a great opportunity to pursue a more thoughtful long-term project, while making math more meaningful.  Working as a family to make a personalized gift together is a beautiful experience that not only showcases the thoughtfulness of the gesture, but also strengthens the bond between family members as they collaborate on a heartfelt and meaningful present.