What to say—and not say—when children learning math ask, “When am I going to use this?”

“When am I going to use this?” is a question that can frustrate math teachers and parents alike. For many, we do not know the best way to answer this question. Below, we will introduce some great ways to answer this question and some common answers to avoid. We also dive into why your child might ask this question in the first place! So if you are struggling to tell your child why they should care about their newest math subject, follow these guidelines.

DON’T: Get caught up in the exact topic they are talking about.

One of the main reasons that this question is so complicated to answer is that you could ask it about anything! Whether a student is learning about quadratic equations, fractional exponents, or permutations, it’s impossible, even for someone with a strong math background, to spontaneously produce a real-world application for any topic. Even if you could propose an insightful application, like comparing a mathematical proof to a case presented by a prosecutor, various students would respond that they are not interested in going into that field anyway. Therefore, it is best not to get too bogged down in the specific topic a student asks about.

INSTEAD… Compare learning new concepts to exercising.

One of the most reliable and insightful responses you can give is to compare learning new concepts to exercising a muscle. Obviously, when people go to the gym to exercise, they are not preparing to encounter a metal barbell in the middle of the sidewalk that they need to pick up. But they do that exercise in the gym because it makes their muscles stronger, and then they can use those muscles in various ways in their everyday life. Well, our brains work the same way! We might not use the exact skills we learn in class, but doing them consistently strengthens our minds and makes us more capable of doing various tasks in our everyday lives!

DON’T: Talk too much about grades.

It’s easy to tell students they need to learn something to get a good grade in class, but it is not constructive. Students likely already understand that they need to understand a topic to get a good grade. Reminding them of this reinforces that grades are the only reason to learn, which isn’t true!

INSTEAD… Use their interests to get them excited about how they can use math.

Complicated math concepts indeed show up in just about every field. Therefore, if you want to help a child become more interested in math, try exploring where math shows up in some of their interests. If they like video games, you can explore the math of video game design. If they are interested in music, you could explore the math of scales, rhythms, and harmonies. It might be hard to relate any mathematical concept to a child’s interest, so emphasize the importance of building a strong mathematical background. And if you are unsure how math might relate to a particular hobby, a simple google search can produce surprisingly great results!

DON’T: Tell them they need to be great at math in order to be successful.

So often, when students ask why they need to learn a new concept, it is because they feel insecure about the fact that they are having difficulty with it. Children of all ages are naturally curious and want to feel smart; it’s just that when they do not feel competent, they might seek a reason to push aside this new challenge. Telling someone struggling with math that they need to be great at math to be successful is like telling them they won’t be successful. Of course, students need to understand that academics play an essential role in their lives, but the time to bring this up is not when they are having trouble with a new topic.

INSTEAD… Help them!

When all else fails, the best thing you can do when a child asks why they need to understand something is to help them understand it! As mentioned above, students want to feel competent and intelligent. If they can grasp a challenging new concept, they will feel proud of themselves and satisfied with their work, even if they do not fully comprehend why it is an important topic. If you don’t feel confident enough in your abilities to help them, you can always find someone else to help! For instance, Zinkerz offers math classes covering everything from 1st Grade Math Fundamentals to AP Calculus BC and SAT Math.

The most important thing to remember is that when a child asks, “When am I going to use any of this?” it is often coming from a place of insecurity that they are struggling with a new concept. The worst thing to do in this scenario is to make them feel like they won’t be successful just because they are not learning it as quickly as they are used to, which happens to everyone. Instead, please sit down and help them or get them some outside support. Your child may benefit from extra math tutoring if they constantly question the necessity of learning new mathematical concepts, and Zinkerz is ready to lend a hand.