Children learn fast if something affects them and everyday experiences can be useful teaching aids.
Arithmetic seems abstract until you need to add up the cost of items to decide if you can afford them out of your pocket money.
Before a birthday party, set the maximum spend. List what different items cost, e.g. food and drink, plates, napkins, bouncy castle, take-home bags, party game prizes, a magician, tickets for an outing. Let them help decide how to save on some things to make something else affordable.
Get them involved in home projects - helping prepare for a barbecue, revamping the garden or a room - identify what needs to be done, what needs to be bought, what order things need to be done in. Let them help organise a sleepover. Cooking needs accurate measurement to avoid disaster.
For a day out they can check websites for useful information and downloadable activity packs. Before a journey show them the route on a map, then use the map to see where they are. Tell them the approximate time for the journey and they can use their watch to see how long they still have to go.
At the allotment, working out how many seeds or plants to buy, helping grow the plants and then cooking them.
Main source: Make Your Child Brilliant by Bernadette Tynon. Quadrille, 2008 (ISBN 978-184400-579-6)
