💪🏽 4 TIPS TO REDUCE MATH ANXIETY IN YOUR CHILD

Math anxiety: YEP, its a real thing!

If you believe your child is struggling with math anxiety, then continue reading to find out if this sounds like what they’re going through. Below, I list some tips to reduce math related anxiety in your child.

• 🤔 What is it? It's also called math phobia, its anxiety about our ability to do mathematics

  • “A feeling of tension, apprehension, or fear that interferes with math performance” (Mark H. Ashcraft, 2002).

  • Its linked to testing anxiety as well (American Psychological Association).

  • From a study done by Hembree in 1990: Math anxiety leads to dislike and avoidance of all math related tasks.

• 🧐 Cause: What causes it?

  • Math anxiety does NOT mean you lack the ability to do well in math, BUT instead, that a person cannot perform at full potential due to interfering symptoms of anxiety. 

  • Large impact from gender, culture, and beliefs.

  • Related to poor math performance on math graded tests and negative attitudes relating to math.

  • Math avoidance leads to less competency and exposure to math practice

    • In turn, this leads to poor math skills.

  • A study by Sian Beilock (University of Chicago) where brains of participants were scanned, found:

    • That anticipation or the THOUGHT of solving math is what causes math anxiety.

    • Brain scans showed the area of the brain that is triggered when experiencing math anxiety overlaps with the area that is triggered when bodily harm is registered. 

  • Math anxiety impacts working memory which is dedicated to problem solving when trying to solve a math task.

  • Math anxious individuals are even more affected by the high stakes and timed-testing

• ⚠️ Your child could possibly be struggling with math anxiety if they:

  • Do well in math HW and classwork BUT poorly in math tests and quizzes.

  • Completely avoids math, and related math tasts.

  • Dislikes or “hates” math all together.

💪🏽 4 WAYS TO REDUCE MATH ANXIETY IN YOUR CHILD:

1. BECOME PROACTIVE:

• Develop + practice relaxation techniques before + after: Math HW, tests, + quizzes.

• Create additional instructional time with your child to review or re-learn strategies + concepts.

• Organize your child's schedule of activities with ample math practice time (time management).

2. LANGUAGE + DELIVERY:

• Emphasize + praise when your child uses a rational process of solving a problem instead only when a problem is correct.

• Parents mindset correlates students mindset: Parent involvement + parent attitudes on math influences your child by reducing or increases math anxiety. Become more involved and speak kindly about math :)

3. BUILDING CONFIDENCE

• ALWAYS start with basics and build up to complex topics. This ensures gradual success and builds confidence in the child about their abilities.

• Create positive experiences in math by avoiding yelling and getting upset when assisting your child in homework.

4. ACTIVE LEARNING

• Allow your child to give themselves self-evaluations

• Encourage asking questions about the process. Ex. What are the pros/cons on solving a problem one way rather than a different way.

• Welcome and encourage our child to kindly correct you if they find an error.

If you need assistance in teaching math topics to your child, we encourage you to book a chat to make a plan about about how we can help you. Book a free consultation HERE.

Learn more about our program HERE.

🌈 Happy Learning!