How To Cope With Mathematics Anxiety

Mathematics is one of those subjects that many children (and adults!) struggle with and this can often lead to anxiety, where we react negatively to the subject and start experiencing feelings of helplessness and panic when faced with problems to solve.

As scary as the topic can seem occasionally, it’s important to know that mathematics anxiety can be overcome and gaining an understanding of what causes it is the first step towards getting to grips with it all.

Poor performance in the subject can lead to anxiety, which then leads to poor performance – and even more anxiety. Knowing the signs is also essential so that it can be addressed… so look out for children doing anything they can to avoid the subject, physical symptoms like sweating, nausea and shaking, not listening or trying, and confusion and frustration.

Shorter mathematics activities can help children overcome their fear so rather than sitting down for a 30-minute class, why not try ten minutes a day? This will help them see immediate successes and not allow them to feel overwhelmed.

You could also try making mathematics part of your daily routine at home. Start having discussions that involve the topic while doing the shopping, cooking at home, doing DIY… there are so many opportunities to get your children excited about mathematics. And once they see they can do it, their anxiety is sure to be reduced.

Talking to your child’s teacher about how they’re feeling and what can be done about it is also a good move to make, so that you know they’re getting the proper support at home. If you’d like any further support with the subject and need a private maths tutor, get in touch with us here at Home-School Tutoring Essex today.

Take a mathematics anxiety test to see if you’ve got it!