A wrong perspective about math(s) as well as persistent math(s) problems and challenges can lead to math(s) anxiety if not checked.
Math(s) anxiety refers to the feeling of anxiety caused by:
- The mere thought of doing or solving math(s),
- The process of attending or sitting in math(s) lessons or courses, and
- Doing homework, sitting math(s) tests, or exams.
- Many children suffer from math(s) anxiety unnecessarily. Symptoms include:
- Sweat breakouts or sweaty palms
- Faster heart rates
- Stomach contractions
- A feeling of a “lump” in the throat.
- Math(s) anxiety can, in turn, lead to the following:
- Low self-esteem and low self-confidence.
- Fewer career options and opportunities in an extremely competitive environment or economy.
- A child’s reluctance to do their homework. (One of the biggest frustrations shared by many parents is the lack of control in getting a child to sit down and do their homework.)
The problem, however, is that maths anxiety is affecting too many children and even parents. The big question confronting many parents is:
“How can I encourage and support my child to love math(s) when I hate it myself?”
According to reports from some experts dating as far back as 1994, “many intelligent people after an average of 1500 hours of instruction over eleven years of schooling, still regard mathematics as a meaningless activity for which they have no aptitude … It is difficult to imagine how a subject could have achieved for itself such an appalling image as it now has in the popular mind … to think that all our effort has led to a situation of fear and loathing is depressing.”[i]
This book was written to address these sorts of questions, which parents and guardians face in relation to math(s). Our findings suggest that many adults still have math(s) anxiety up until now.
If you would like further guidance, book here a complimentary 30-minute chat with me and let me guide you in the right direction.
[i] Wain (1994) in Westwood, Peter. Numeracy and Learning Difficulties: Approaches to Teaching and Assesment. UK: David Fulton Publishers (Routledge), 2000.
