Written by Laurie Robinson Haden | PSEE
Many children learn early to say, “I’m just not good at math,” but confidence can be rebuilt with supportive practice and real-world experiences. Families can turn everyday moments into math opportunities that feel less like tests and more like discovery.
1. Talk Positively About Math
Avoid saying that math is scary or “not your thing.” Instead, share times when you worked through a tricky problem and felt proud of yourself.
2. Use Cooking as a Math Lab
Measuring ingredients, doubling recipes, and adjusting portions help children see fractions and multiplication in action. Let them read the recipe and do the measurements.
3. Play Math Games Together
Card games, dominoes, and dice activities build number sense, problem-solving, and mental math. Make it playful, not pressured.
4. Turn Shopping Trips Into Practice
Ask your child to estimate totals, compare prices, or calculate discounts. This shows them how math connects to real-life decisions.
5. Break Down Word Problems Slowly
Work through word problems step by step. Highlight keywords, draw pictures, and talk through the story behind the numbers.
6. Use Visual Aids and Manipulatives
Coins, blocks, beads, and drawings help children see math, not just memorize it. Visual supports are especially helpful for multi-step problems.
7. Normalize Mistakes as Part of Learning
When your child gets a problem wrong, ask, “What can we learn from this?” rather than showing frustration. This builds resilience instead of fear.
8. Encourage a “Yet” Mindset
If your child says, “I can’t do fractions,” add “yet” to the sentence. Remind them that skills grow with practice and time.
9. Ask Children to Teach You
Have them explain how they solved a problem. Teaching strengthens understanding and shows you where they may be confused.
10. Celebrate Effort and Improvement
Recognize when your child keeps trying, even if the answer isn’t perfect. Over time, effort leads to mastery and real confidence.
Final Thought: Math confidence is not about being perfect; it’s about feeling capable and supported. When families bring math into everyday life and emphasize growth, children begin to see themselves as successful math learners.
