We’ve all been there – our kids coming asking for help with their homework, and when we sit down to help them tackle the problem, we realise that we have absolute no clue.
Not only is it frustrating for them that we can’t help them get through a problem, it’s especially frustrating for us as we are forced to take a back seat with certain aspects of their education.
Well, a new course is now being introduced that could help parents with this exact issue.
Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) have started an online training course for parents called ‘Maths for Mum and Dad’.
Thanks to the Computer Science and Maths department, this web-based course can help parents learn everything from arithmetic to trigonometry with the use of video tutorials and online tests.
Depending on your schedule, you can take your time and cover the course in six months, or power through with their two-week intensive course.
“The ESB wanted to upskill tradesmen to send them to college and so this course was developed to update their maths skills. It was very successful,” said head of computing and mathematics, Dr Padraig Kirwan.
“Maths for Mums and Dads aims to help parents fill in gaps in parents’ own knowledge of mathematics so that they can better support their child through secondary school.”
Dr Kirwan said that a lot of parents can find it tough managing the transition from primary to secondary school, and parents can often feel like they can no longer help them with difficult homework.
“Having a parent sit down with a child is such a positive thing and yet many parents have that fear of maths. If this course helps parents to burst that bubble, then we’re delighted.”
