Here are some tips from the BrainPOP family to help boost math confidence for any child year-round.
Written by Kelli Rascoe
We've all been there. It's time for math homework, and your kid stops in their tracks. Or maybe they realize it's math test day. As parents, it can be challenging to prepare for all the emotions surrounding math anxiety for your kids. Naturally, math anxiety is a common problem affecting children of all ages. It can make it difficult for kids to learn math and lead to negative attitudes about math and math-related subjects. Here are some tips from the BrainPOP family to help boost math confidence for any child year-round.
How to conquer math anxiety with your kids
Over the recent years due to popularity, we’ve seen a rise in homeschooling for the potential of creating personal learning experiences at home. Homeschool parents and homeschool teachers can help kids with math anxiety. Consider the following:
Make math fun.
Play math games, do math puzzles, and find other ways to make math enjoyable for kids. Ask them their favorite game, and if math isn't already incorporated (hint—it probably is), find a fun and new way to incorporate learning into the activity.
Help kids by boosting confidence in their math skills.
Elevate your kids' successes, and encourage them to keep trying even when they make mistakes. Some of your kids' best learning will come from mistakes. Does your kiddo love challenges or competitions? If they're struggling with a specific area, consider a weekly challenge to help boost their confidence. Check out some more summer math activities here.
Break down math problems into smaller steps.
All kids are unique and learn differently. Consider breaking down math problems into smaller steps to make them easier to digest. Digestible chunks will also make them seem less daunting and more manageable.
Use visual aids to help kids understand math concepts.
Pictures, diagrams, graphs, and charts can help kids visualize math problems and make them easier to understand.
Be patient and understanding.
Math can be frustrating, no matter the age or grade level. Math anxiety can be frustrating for kids, so it's essential to be patient and understanding when they're struggling.
Incorporate math into other subjects.
Does your kid have a subject they already love? Maybe they jump at the chance to do a science experiment, art project, or read the newest book. Chances are there's a way to incorporate math into all of those projects. Let's dive in.
Start small. It may mean pulling together all the items needed for your art project and adding or subtracting how many you need left. Perhaps your child is on a certain page and curious about how many pages are left in the book. Use subtraction to figure out the problem. Find creative ways to incorporate numbers, shapes, geometry, and word problems into their already existing work. This can help solidify their understanding and start to ease math anxiety.
Try new ways to "test" math knowledge.
Math is everywhere. Try incorporating learning math into everyday activities, which can help stress the fun and relatable aspect of math. For example, this could look like going to the grocery store, running errands, at the park, or at after-school activities. How many double pirouettes are in their dance recital routine? Does your kid know how to budget? Chat about financial literacy. Dive in and explore these questions with your kid, and you may start to see the wheels turning with delight.
Learn together.
Homeschool families that take the chance to learn together see an increase in household engagement and boost quality time together. Perhaps that’s exploring a new activity, learning a new skill or language, or trying a new hobby as a family.
Reduce math anxiety in kids while fueling their love of learning!
With the proper support, guidance, and boost of fun, kids with math anxiety can overcome their fears and learn to enjoy math. By trying new strategies, flexing in how they learn best, and joining in on the fun, You never know what they and you can learn together.
For more on learning at home, check out BrainPOP Family.
Kelli Rascoe is a Senior Content Strategy Manager at BrainPOP. She has nine years of experience in writing, content marketing, and strategy for tech and Fortune 500 brands. She is also a homeschool momma to a princess scientist and a pack of rescue pups.