Mathematics anxiety is real, remarkably common, and unfortunately self-perpetuating. Children who believe they are ‘not a maths person’ approach mathematical challenges with a level of emotional resistance that makes genuine engagement much harder. The good news is that maths ability is much more malleable than fixed-mindset beliefs suggest, and there is a great deal parents can do to change their child’s relationship with the subject.
Addressing the Mindset First
Before worrying about techniques and strategies, it is worth addressing the underlying attitude towards maths. Be careful about inadvertently validating maths anxiety — saying ‘I was never good at maths either’ may feel empathetic but reinforces the idea that mathematical ability is inherited rather than developed. Instead, emphasise that all mathematical skills are learnable with the right approach and enough practice.
Celebrating effort and persistence in maths, rather than only celebrating correct answers, shifts the focus towards the process of learning rather than the product of performance. A child who keeps going when something is hard is developing something more important than the correct answer to a specific problem.
Making Maths Concrete
Abstract mathematical concepts are easier to understand when they are first encountered in concrete, physical form. Using real objects to explore number, fractions, and basic algebra helps children build the intuitive understanding that makes abstract manipulation much more manageable later. This is the principle behind the Singapore maths approach, which has produced consistently strong results wherever it has been adopted.
Regular Short Practice
Fluency with number facts — times tables, number bonds, basic calculations — is a genuine foundation for more complex mathematical reasoning. Children who can recall these quickly have more mental bandwidth available for the more demanding aspects of a problem. Short, regular practice is more effective than infrequent long sessions for building this kind of automaticity.
MPW London has extensive experience helping students who have struggled with maths to achieve the grades they need. Visit https://www.mpw.ac.uk/locations/london/ to find out more.
When to Get Help
If your child is consistently struggling despite genuine effort, it may be worth investigating whether there is a specific learning difficulty such as dyscalculia involved, or simply a gap in foundational knowledge that is making everything built on top of it harder than it needs to be. Early identification of specific difficulties allows for targeted support that makes a genuine difference.
