Recognising and Addressing Maths Anxiety in Children

When 9-year-old Emma sees a maths worksheet, her heart races, her palms sweat, and her mind goes blank. She’s capable of the work – she proves it when playing strategy games – but in maths class, anxiety takes over. Emma isn’t alone. Studies show that up to 50% of primary school students experience some level of maths anxiety.

What is Maths Anxiety?

Maths anxiety is more than just disliking maths. It’s a genuine emotional response that can include:

Physical symptoms: increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, headaches
Cognitive effects: mind going blank, inability to concentrate, negative self-talk
Behavioural signs: avoidance, procrastination, giving up quickly
Emotional responses: frustration, fear, shame, panic

The cruel cycle: anxiety impairs performance, poor performance increases anxiety, which further impairs performance.

Warning Signs by Age

Years 1-3 (Ages 6-8):

“I hate maths” or “I’m no good at maths”
Complaints of stomach aches or headaches before maths
Crying or tantrums during homework
Extreme reluctance to try problems

Years 4-6 (Ages 9-11):

Avoiding maths-related activities
Perfectionism (erasing repeatedly, refusing to try unless certain)
Negative self-talk: “I’m stupid” or “I’ll never get this”
Physical complaints to avoid school on test days

Years 7-10 (Ages 12-15):

Declining maths grades despite effort in other subjects
Choosing lower-level maths classes to avoid challenge
Panic during tests even when prepared
Considering future paths that “don’t need maths”

Where Does Maths Anxiety Come From?

Common causes include:

Early negative experiences: A public mistake, harsh correction, or embarrassing moment can create lasting fear.
Parental anxiety: Children pick up on parents’ math fears. “I was never good at maths either” seems sympathetic but suggests math ability is fixed.
Time pressure: Timed tests and speed drills create stress, especially for students who think deeply but slowly.
Teaching methods: Over-emphasis on memorisation without understanding creates fragile knowledge that crumbles under pressure.
Comparison to others: Feeling “behind” peers or siblings damages confidence.
Accumulated gaps: Missing foundational concepts makes everything harder, creating a snowball effect.

What Maths Anxiety Does to Learning

Anxiety literally impacts brain function:

Working memory decreases (the mental space for problem-solving)
Retrieval of information becomes harder
Logical thinking is impaired
Physical stress responses override cognitive processes

Research using brain scans shows that maths-anxious students use different brain regions when solving problems – regions associated with fear rather than numerical processing.

Strategies to Help Your Child

Immediate Support Strategies

During Homework:

Break work into small chunks with breaks
Start with easier problems to build confidence
Use physical objects and drawings
Celebrate effort, not just correct answers
If tears or panic start, stop and try again later

During Tests:

Practice relaxation breathing: in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4
Remind them: “Do your best, mistakes help us learn”
Have a “worry time” before the test to express fears
Create a comfort ritual (special pencil, lucky eraser)

Long-Term Strategies

1. Change the Narrative Replace “I’m not a maths person” with “I’m still learning this.” Replace “I can’t do this” with “I can’t do this YET.”

Growth mindset language matters. Ability isn’t fixed – it grows with effort.

2. Make Maths Low-Stakes and Playful

Board games: Strategy games use maths without “doing maths”
Cooking together: Measuring, doubling recipes, timing
Card games: Addition, estimation, probability
Shopping: Budgeting, calculating discounts, estimating totals

When maths happens naturally in fun contexts, it’s less threatening.

3. Focus on Understanding, Not Speed

Depth over breadth
Multiple strategies welcome
Think time is valuable
Accuracy matters more than speed

Many capable maths students are slow processors. Speed isn’t intelligence.

4. Celebrate Mistakes as Learning

“Mistakes help our brains grow”
Share your own mistakes openly
Analyse errors together: “What can we learn from this?”
Create a “Favourite Mistakes” collection

When mistakes are normalized, fear decreases.

5. Address Gaps Systematically If anxiety stems from missing concepts:

Identify specific gaps (not “bad at maths” – what specifically?)
Practice those foundational skills in low-pressure ways
Build confidence gradually before moving forward

A tutor or online resources can help fill gaps without school pressure.

6. Build Mathematical Confidence

Let them be the expert (younger sibling’s maths helper)
Point out real-life maths they do successfully
Acknowledge progress, not perfection
Connect to their interests (sports statistics, gaming strategies)

What Parents Should Avoid

Don’t:

Say “I was bad at maths too” (suggests it’s genetic)
Over-help or do homework for them (creates dependence)
Use maths as punishment (“Extra maths problems for misbehaving”)
Compare to siblings or peers
Show your own stress about their maths struggles
Push through panic (this reinforces fear)

Do:

Model positive maths attitude
Emphasize effort and strategies
Provide appropriate support and back off when ready
Seek help early if needed
Stay calm and confident

When to Seek Professional Help

Consider professional support if:

Anxiety interferes with daily life or school attendance
Physical symptoms are severe or frequent
Self-esteem is significantly impacted
Strategies aren’t helping after consistent effort (3+ months)
Anxiety extends beyond maths to other areas

Options include:

School counselor or psychologist
Private educational psychologist
Maths tutor specializing in confidence-building
Cognitive behavioural therapy for severe cases

School-Based Solutions

Work with teachers to:

Reduce time pressure on assessments
Provide alternative assessment formats
Allow calculator use when appropriate
Create a low-stress seating arrangement
Offer quiet space for test-taking

Good teachers want to help – communication is key.

Success Stories

Many successful adults in STEM fields had maths anxiety as children. What changed? Usually:

A patient, encouraging teacher or tutor
Success in one area building general confidence
Finding applications they cared about
Addressing gaps systematically
Developing coping strategies that worked

Recovery is absolutely possible. Maths anxiety doesn’t predict maths ability.

The Bottom Line

Maths anxiety is a real and common challenge, but it’s not a life sentence. With patience, appropriate support, and consistent positive experiences, children can overcome their fear and develop genuine confidence in their mathematical abilities.

The goal isn’t perfection – it’s progress. Every small step toward comfort with maths is worth celebrating. Your child’s mathematical future isn’t determined by their current anxiety; it’s shaped by the support and encouragement they receive today.

Remember: You’re not trying to create a mathematician (unless they want to be one). You’re helping develop a capable, confident person who sees maths as a useful tool rather than a source of fear. That’s a realistic and achievable goal for every child.