Many primary school children feel anxious about maths. Instead of rushing to get the right answer, children should learn at their own pace, break problems into smaller steps, and use real-life activities like cooking or shopping to make maths feel natural. When maths is made fun and stress-free, children begin to enjoy learning.
At Descartes Learning Centre, we help primary school children overcome maths anxiety through one-on-one support, interactive teaching, and a patient, encouraging approach. Here are 11 of our expert-backed strategies to help your child build confidence in maths.
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How to Help Students With Math Anxiety
1. Change the Way a Child Thinks About Maths
Many children believe they are just “bad at maths,” but this is not true. No child is born bad at maths – everyone can improve with practice. Teaching young learners that their maths ability can grow with effort helps to remove their fear. Instead of saying, “I can’t do maths,” encourage them to say that, “I’m still learning, and I will get better.”
2. Use Everyday Activities to Teach Mathematics
Maths doesn’t have to be about worksheets and tests. Simple activities like counting objects, sorting toys by size, measuring ingredients, or playing board games all involve mathematics. Asking children to help with basic maths in everyday life helps them see that maths is useful and fun. This makes it feel less scary and more familiar – a tactic we use quite often here at Descartes.
3. Encourage Children to Learn from Mistakes
Many children fear getting the wrong answer in maths, but mistakes are part of learning. At Descartes Learning Centre, we always teach our students that mistakes help them improve. So, instead of focusing on the mistake, we help them understand what went wrong and try again. This helps students to build confidence and reduces their fear of failure.
4. Break Problems into Smaller Steps
A big maths problem can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into smaller steps makes it easier to handle. Instead of rushing to get the answer, young learners should remember to take it one step at a time. Teaching them how to solve the problem in stages helps to reduce anxiety and makes problem-solving easier.
5. Use Hands-On Learning Techniques
Young children learn best through hands-on experiences. Using physical objects, like counting blocks, number lines, or drawings, makes maths easier to understand. At Descartes Learning Centre, we use interactive teaching methods to make learning engaging and fun, helping our students to grasp mathematical concepts with ease.
6. Teach That Speed Isn’t Important
Many children think they have to answer maths questions quickly, which makes them feel anxious. But being good at maths isn’t about speed – it’s simply about understanding. Students should be encouraged to take their time, think carefully, and focus on getting the right answer rather than rushing.
7. Use Praise and Encouragement
Confidence in maths grows when children feel supported. Instead of only correcting mistakes, it’s important to praise their efforts. Saying, “You worked hard on that!” or “That was a great try!” helps build a positive attitude towards maths.
8. Teach Simple Relaxation Techniques
Anxiety makes it harder to think clearly, so teaching children how to stay calm before a maths task can help. Simple breathing exercises, short breaks, or even stretching can help them feel more relaxed and reinforce calm. At Descartes Learning Centre, we teach young learners how to manage stress so they can focus without feeling overwhelmed.
9. Make Maths Social and Fun
Learning with friends, family, or a tutor can make maths less stressful. Playing number games, using fun maths apps, or working on puzzles together helps children feel more comfortable and engaged. Group learning also helps them see that they are not alone in their struggles.
10. Get One-on-One Support
Personalised support is one of the best ways to help young children overcome maths anxiety. At Descartes Learning Centre, we offer one-on-one tutoring that allows children to ask questions without fear and learn in a way that suits them. Our patient and encouraging tutors help children build confidence and develop strong maths skills at their own pace – helping them to tackle any equation, no matter how hard.
11. Build on Their Working Memory
Many children develop maths anxiety because they feel pressure to get everything right immediately. Regular practice helps build confidence, but it should be done in a stress-free way.
Start with easy problems so the child experiences success and builds confidence. Then, gradually introduce more challenging ones. Using fun and engaging activities like maths puzzles, educational apps, or real-world questions during math class makes practice feel less like hard work.
Signs That a Primary School Child Has Math Anxiety
From our experience, signs parents and teachers can look for include:
Primary school children with maths anxiety often avoid maths or say they “hate” it. They may feel nervous before maths lessons, get upset when solving problems, or believe they will never be good at it. Some children may even feel sick or panicked when faced with a maths test.
Another sign of maths anxiety is negative self-talk. If a child often says, “I’m just not a maths person,” or “I’ll never get this,” they may have deep-seated fears about maths. This mindset can hold them back, making it important to address their anxiety early before helplessness settles.
At Descartes Learning Centre, we help primary school children change their mindset, develop confidence, and see that they are capable of learning maths.
Why One-on-One Support is the Best Way to Overcome Math Anxiety in Primary School Children
Every child learns differently, and a classroom setting doesn’t always provide the personalised help they need. One-on-one support allows tutors to focus on a child’s specific struggles and teach in a way that works for them.
At Descartes Learning Centre, we provide a calm and supportive environment where young children feel safe to ask questions and practise without pressure. Our interactive, hands-on teaching methods help primary school children understand maths concepts in a way that makes sense to them. We build their confidence step by step, so they no longer feel afraid of maths.
Unlike traditional classrooms, where children might feel embarrassed to ask for help, our tutoring sessions allow them to learn in a stress-free way. With expert support and encouragement, children can overcome their maths anxiety and develop the confidence they need to succeed.
Final Thoughts
Math anxiety is common in primary school children, but it can be overcome. With the right approach, such as changing a child’s mindset, making maths fun, encouraging mistakes, practising in a low-stress way, and providing one-on-one support, young learners can build confidence and succeed in mathematics.
At Descartes Learning Centre, we specialise in helping primary school children overcome their fear of maths through personalised, hands-on tutoring. Our expert tutors create a calm, encouraging environment where children can learn at their own pace, build confidence, and develop a love for maths.
If your child is struggling with maths anxiety, we are here to help. Book a consultation with us today and give your child the support they need to feel confident in maths!