Not all learning (especially of math) is fun, and concepts without automatic mastery of elementary steps is of limited use. Barbara Oakley aims her applied cog psych at parents of girls, but it applies to both sexes. https://nyti.ms/2OLVKCO
Forcing kids to practice the piano or violin has a very mixed record of success; quite often it serves only to engender in them a stubborn, lifelong antipathy toward these instruments. Why should forcing kids to practice mathematics lead to better results?