3 Things Parents Can Do Right Now to Help Their Kid With Math
Updated: Oct 1
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.
What to say when your child is stuck
Sometimes you do not know the math. That is okay. You can still help with a few simple questions.
What is the problem asking you to find?
What do you already know?
Can you show me the first step?
Can you try a smaller number to see how it works?
A five minute habit
Ask your child to teach you one thing they learned in math this week. When kids explain an idea out loud, they understand it better. It also shows you where they feel strong and where they feel stuck. Keep it light. If they get it wrong, say thanks and try it again together.
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.
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