How to overcome maths anxiety

Fear around maths is a real issue for some students. How can parents help their children move past these feelings and get the grades they’re capable of?

For many children, maths can feel like a mountain they’re unable to climb. Maths anxiety is more common than you might think, and it can cause kids to feel frustrated, overwhelmed or even afraid of the subject. The good news is that with the right strategies, you can help your son or daughter replace those feelings of fear with confidence and a can-do attitude.

What is maths anxiety?

Maths anxiety goes beyond simply disliking maths. It’s a genuine emotional reaction that can cause stress, avoidance and even physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches when faced with mathematical tasks. Often, it stems from a fear of failure or the belief that they’re “just not good at maths.”

Studies have indicated that maths anxiety and performance can influence one another in a vicious cycle. Research is unclear whether performance triggers anxiety or the other way around. It seems likely to be a combination of both experiences negatively reinforcing each other.

The key to helping kids overcome this is to create a supportive environment where they feel encouraged to learn without the pressure of perfection.

Normalise struggles

The first step in supporting your child is acknowledging that it’s okay to find maths challenging. Share stories about times you struggled with maths – or any other subject – and how you worked through it. This lets your son or daughter know they’re not alone and that struggles are a natural part of learning.

You can also highlight the fact that even adults use trial and error to solve problems. Reassuring your child that mistakes are opportunities to learn can begin to ease their anxiety and nudge them towards a growth mindset.

Learn the language

It is important to teach children that maths is a language of its own. If students can’t speak it fluently, they won’t really understand the fundamental concepts. Maths is a particular way of using language – it uses specialist vocabulary and symbols. To engage with it, students have to learn specific words and get comfortable with their meaning across different contexts. Much like any language, becoming fluent in maths is a communication journey with several stumbling blocks to contend with. It can be confusing for young minds, as maths is full of strange terms, formats and shorthand too. We should never underestimate the brain work involved – speaking maths is hard work!

Sentence frames, such as “One kilometre is equal to one thousand meters” or “A cuboid has six faces and eight corners” are great practice for clearing up foundational maths concepts, allowing your young learner to develop fluency in maths vocabulary and a deeper understanding of basic mathematical ideas.

Make maths meaningful

Children often struggle with this subject because it feels abstract and disconnected from real life. Bringing maths into everyday activities is a proven way to make it more relatable and less intimidating.

A good starting place is to involve your kids in practical tasks that require maths, such as cooking, where they can measure ingredients, or shopping, where they can calculate totals and change. Games like card games, board games or apps designed to boost maths skills may also make learning fun and engaging.

One step at a time

Any challenge is easier to handle in parts. With this in mind, break mathematical concepts down into small, manageable chunks. If your child is struggling with long division, for example, start by reviewing simpler division problems to build their confidence before moving on. Remember to celebrate every small victory along the way – it really helps to keep them motivated!

When tackling homework or revising for exams, a calm environment with regular breaks built in will do wonders to prevent feelings of overwhelm. Ultimately, a short, focused session is often more productive than hours of frustrated effort.

Focus on effort, not results

Instead of emphasising grades or test scores, praise your little learner for their effort, persistence and creative thinking. One of the most effective ways to combat maths anxiety is by celebrating progress, no matter how small it may seem. Every time your child masters a concept, solves a problem, or even attempts something challenging, try to acknowledge their effort and perseverance.

Positive reinforcement is central to building kids’ confidence and encouraging them to keep trying. For example, you might say, “I’m so proud of how hard you worked on that problem!” This approach will slowly shift their mindset from fearing failure to valuing growth. Over time, these small wins can add up, turning maths from a source of stress into one of pride.

Extra support

If your child continues to feel anxious, consider speaking with their teacher or hiring a tutor. Sometimes, having a patient and understanding mentor can make all the difference in giving students confidence in their abilities.

Maths anxiety doesn’t have to hold your child back. With patience, encouragement and a focus on progress, you can help them develop the skills – and the self-belief – they need to tackle maths with confidence. Together, you can turn anxiety into achievement, one step at a time!

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