3 Things Parents Can Do Right Now to Help Their Kid With Math

After working with over 300 students, I can tell you the biggest thing holding kids back in math isn't skill. It's confidence. Here are three things you can start doing today to help your child.

1. Pump up their confidence

If they mess up, tell them they can do this. If they get it right, tell them they can do this. If they're stuck, tell them they can do this. Keep saying it. Keep believing it out loud. Do this and good things will happen. I promise you.

2. Talk to their teacher

Most kids who struggle in math are not struggling because math is too hard. They're distracted. Maybe they're sitting next to a friend. Maybe their mind wanders. A quick chat with the teacher can tell you what's really going on in class, not just what shows up on the report card.

3. Bring math into everyday life

You don't need a worksheet to practice math. Let your kid count out change at the store. Have them help figure out a recipe. Ask them to compare prices when you shop. Research backs this up too. Stanford's Graduate School of Education found that math anxiety can drag down a kid's performance even when they're fully capable, and everyday practice without pressure or grades attached is one of the best ways to break that cycle.

Do these three things and you'll see a real shift in how your kid feels about math, not just how they do on the next test.