Everyday numbers provide brief opportunities to read, locate and check number information without creating extra worksheets. Suitable examples include prices, page numbers, bus numbers, cooking measurements and sports scores.

Let the child take the lead

Ask the child to complete a real task, such as finding page 126, reading £3.60, measuring 250 ml or checking a departure time. Before stepping in, ask them to check the number for themselves.

A useful routine is:

1. Read the whole number.

2. Identify what each part represents.

3. Check it against the context.

4. Correct it if it does not make sense.

For example, if a recipe asks for 250 ml and the child reads 25 ml, compare the amount with a familiar cup or look at the scale on the jug. The context helps reveal the error.

Keep the practice natural

One or two examples during an ordinary activity are enough. Do not turn every shopping trip or journey into a maths test. Praise careful checking rather than speed.

If a particular type of number still causes repeated difficulty, such as decimals, large numbers or scales, tell school exactly what happened. A specific example is more useful than saying that the child is “bad with numbers”.

A useful free resource

National Numeracy’s Family Maths Toolkit contains practical activities that connect maths with everyday life. You need to give an email address to get them. Choose an activity that matches what school is currently teaching rather than trying to cover several skills at once.

Talamo has no commercial relationship with any of the organisations named here. We suggest them only because we think they could be useful to families.