Your child is a bright and smart child; however, they are having a hard time grasping the concept of basic addition.  They however, adore going to the aquarium.  The solution is really quite simple, take them to the aquarium instead of worrying about math for a day, allow them to study the fish, watch them swim, and eat.  However, at the same time, ask a few questions at times to help keep your child focusing on the fish.  Perhaps ask how many yellow fish they see.  How many catfish or sharks.  Oftentimes, people become so obsessed with the concept of pushing formalized education that they forget completely that there are in fact ways and methods to teach, without your child even realizing that they are learning. 

Consider that when you were a child times were much simpler, and less stressful.  How often were you sent home with books full of homework?  However, as the kids of today are coming home with more and more homework, are they really learning anything more than they were a few short years ago when homework meant one page of math practice, or even a short essay?  Instead, they are bombarded with huge stacks of 10-20 pages worth of homework a night.  How much result as a parent do you really see from that stack of homework?  I know my school districts report card was released yesterday, I was not happy at all, the school in my area had several D’s in subjects where it shouldn’t be. 

While I personally prefer the idea of teaching my child myself, and keeping them home I also see the benefits of this for my family.  From being able to watch them grow and learn, helping guide them as they decide what they want to learn.  Taking trips to the aquarium, or the park instead of once again sitting and doing more math worksheets, or even going to the train museum to see exactly how a train works, and taking a train ride, instead of just reading about trains in a book in a classroom with other little minds that are just dying for the opportunity to explore. 

I encourage others to at least partially home school their child.  Offer the chance for the learning trip with just you and your child so that you can truly see how they learn hands on and with the loving guidance of the people they love most in the world.  My children personally love the concept of fish and dancing, as well as anything Elmo.  I can easily teach them almost anything as long as I incorporate those three things into the lesson.  How many kindergarten teachers do you see using Elmo to teach though?  It is not allowed, but what is wrong with allowing your child to connect to the cute cuddly monster whom they adore while they secretly learn to count, or their ABC’s, or even about different animals, and family!  I think it is perfectly fine, allowing your child to do that.  After all, while education is important, it must be based in something that they can relate to or else they will never be able to truly remember the material that they were taught as a child.