Children favour maths despite it being challenging
A study has found that maths was the most enjoyed subject of four to 14 year olds (26%), followed by PE (20%) and art (16%). This was despite the fact that it is also the subject children admit to finding the most challenging, followed by English and geography.
The study by extra tuition provider Explore Learning also revealed that youngsters believes maths is important in adulthood, as more than nine in ten (94%) children think maths is useful and 90% think being good at maths will help you get a better paid job in the future. Nearly two thirds (61%) think a job in maths would be exciting! More than a third (36%) think maths is most important for being a teacher, engineer (26%), scientist (17%) and Doctor (9%).
The next generation of mathematicians may also put an end to the gender divide in maths related professions as girls and boys alike place high value on numeracy skills. Over half (56%) of children think maths is the most important subject and just under seven in ten (69%) children think boys and girls are equally good at maths. Whilst maths is an equal favourite with both genders, humanities and sciences may have some work to do as art is enjoyed by more girls (23%) than boys (9%) and science is enjoyed by more boys (17%) than girls (8%).
To encourage children to revel in the fun that maths can bring, tuition provider, Explore Learning runs an annual competition for kids that is free to enter with the main aim of engaging the next generation of mathematicians.
Known as the National Young Mathematicians’ Awards and run in co-ordination with the University of Cambridge, this year’s maths ambassador is Kjartan Poskitt, TV presenter and author of the Murderous Maths series of books.
Kjartan Poskitt says: “I am not surprised to hear that children are enjoying arithmetic so much; nothing beats the feeling of getting an answer right! Maths isn’t just about sums, it’s about games, puzzles, tricks and discovery. It’s great to see that young minds are embracing number challenges and enjoying the test along the way.”
The deadline to enter the National Young Mathematicians’ Awards is Friday 20th October.
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