As we’ve discussed before there is a prevailing sentiment that math is something to be feared or hated. Many children and adults readily admit their aversion to the subject. Math anxiety, a topic we defined last week, can begin in childhood, as early as the first grade and can be a result of a history of math fatigue and previous negative experiences in math classes. If your child experiences math anxiety, it can be easy to allow them to throw in the towel but let this new school year be different!
A good math background is becoming increasingly necessary to secure a good future in a variety of professions making math not something that parents can risk opting their children out of.
The good news is that there are ways to break the vicious cycle of math anxiety, avoid fatigue, and encourage joy into your child’s relationship with math! These are some simple things you can do:
The earlier in the school year that you enact these tips, the quicker math fatigue and anxiety will become irrelevant feelings in your household.