My daughter who is studying in 7th grade has always feared math subject. Every time she has to appear for a math exam, she begins to panic. Even though she knows the concepts, she will end up making silly mistakes.
As a parent, it was important for me to help her overcome her math phobia. As she progressed to higher classes, the math level will become even more difficult. Moreover, math subject serves as a foundation for many career options.
I am sharing a few tips here that worked in my daughter’s favour to reduce her math anxiety significantly.
- Brush Up the Basics
Before your child solves complex math problems, make sure their fundamentals are strong. Go back to their previous class books and let them do the sums.
- Practice Daily
Math is nothing but just practice, practice and practice. Make sure that your child spends at least 1 hour every day on math practice. The more they practice, the more they will understand the concepts better.
- Use Worksheets and Reference Guides
The exercises given in the school math textbook may not be enough for practice. Over time, your child may even remember the answers before they solve the problems. Make them solve different types of problems based on their syllabus. These days, you can easily find practice worksheets and reference guides in online stores.
- Encourage Mistakes
Don’t expect your child to get the answer right every time on the first attempt. It’s fine to make mistakes because it will speed up their learning process. They will remember the mistake and ensure that they don’t repeat it when doing the sum next time. Sit with them to evaluate the mistakes and let them rework the same sum again.
Avoid scolding them at any cost or else they will withdraw into their shell, lose confidence and make more mistakes.
- Teach Them Real-Life Applications
Children learn things faster when they get an opportunity to apply them in real-life situations. So, next time you go shopping, ask your child to do mental calculations regarding prices, discounts and payments. Let them handle the cash payment transactions under your supervision. If your child is old enough, you can even send them to buy low-value items from shops to help them learn.
- Show Them Techniques to Deal with Anxiety
The severe phobia can throw some children off their guard. They can feel restless, anxious or frustrated. When this happens, ask them to take deep breaths. This will make them feel relaxed and calm their minds.
If your child doesn’t show any improvement despite following the above tips, you can consider enrolling them in a math tuition class. You can look for a coaching class or a private tutor. Check a few options for math tuition here.
Do you have other tips to share based on your experiences? Please comment here.
