Maths Anxiety is characterised by feelings of tension and apprehension that can disrupt one’s performance in maths. Most children suffering from Maths Anxiety feel and believe they are incapable of doing anything related to maths. These feelings can trigger a cycle of maths avoidance and low achievement, causing them to give up and lose all motivation to improve their skills.

Anxiety towards maths can develop in children as early as Kindergarten and affects nearly half of elementary school children. Various factors contribute to Maths Anxiety in children, which can include negative learning experiences.

Tips to overcome Maths Anxiety:

• At school, the use of untimed or ungraded tests in a separate space away from peers will reduce anxiety towards maths as well as increase the child’s confidence in their academic performance.
• At home, create a learning environment where your child can develop a positive learning experience. Rather than placing importance on inaccuracies, highlight small successes and improvements.
• Children with Maths Anxiety usually have low self-efficacy and confidence in their performance. It is important to resolve negative self-beliefs by speaking openly and regularly with your child about their anxiety.
• Understanding the relevance of maths can help reduce anxiety. For instance, you can explain to your child how maths can be applied with real-life examples. It is important for children to understand what they are being asked to learn in a meaningful way. This would help motivate them to be more interested in learning maths, instead of seeing maths as a process of memorising repetitive steps, which would only heighten their anxiety.

• Children learn best when they feel safe and comfortable. Pointing out the child’s mistakes or putting them on the spot to answer a question might increase their anxiety. Instead, give your child more time to think about their answers, encourage them to ask questions and compliment them for putting in the effort to try even if they are unable to derive the right answers.