If your child feels anxious or overwhelmed by math, we’re here to help them move from fear to confidence with the right support and understanding
Math anxiety is the feeling of stress, tension, and nervousness experienced when studying math. Stanford professor Jo Boaler reported in 2012 that as many as 50% of adults suffer from maths anxiety. When researchers tested 288 students using a math anxiety scale and a math achievement test, the results showed a strong negative relationship between math anxiety and achievement. In simple terms, students who felt more anxious tended to perform worse in math. Conversely, as students performed better in math, their anxiety tended to decrease.
Math anxiety often shows the same symptoms as general anxiety, including:
Worry or panic
Tense muscles
Rapid heartbeat
Sweaty palms
Feeling lightheaded
In students, math anxiety may show up in emotional and behavioural ways. They might cry, hide, avoid eye contact, daydream, repeatedly work on the same problem, or get distracted by social media while studying.
Other common signs include:
Low confidence: Believing they’re not good at math, which leads to fear and avoidance.
Avoidance: Steering clear of anything involving math, limiting their opportunities to improve.
Poor academic performance: Especially in math-heavy subjects like mathematics, science, or technology.
For adults, math anxiety can limit career choices. Many avoid fields that require math, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Anxiety also affects thinking. When a person is anxious, their working memory—used to hold and process information—becomes overloaded. This can make it hard to focus, remember steps, or solve problems, sometimes leading to a feeling of the mind “going blank.”
In our experience as Math tutors in Sydney, we’ve seen that many children with low confidence struggle not because they aren’t smart, but because they give up too quickly. They’re scared of making mistakes and start to believe they aren’t good at maths. This makes them feel upset or frustrated, and they stop trying. Instead of learning from mistakes, they avoid trying at all.
On the other hand, confident children keep trying, even when a problem is hard. If one method doesn’t work, they try another until they get it right. As Math Tutors, it’s our job to help students build this confidence and not be afraid of mistakes.
If your child feels overwhelmed, anxious, or freezes up at the mere mention of math, you’ve come to the right place. We understand that math anxiety is real. We've worked with many students who have struggled, even breaking down over basic concepts like multiplication—and we're here to help. This experience has given us a deep insight into what truly helps students. Instead of feeling scared, they can learn to build the confidence they need to tackle math with success.
YES, THEY CAN. Just as a student’s confidence in math can be lost quickly, it can also be rebuilt just as fast. Sometimes, all it takes is one “ah-ha” moment for a student to start believing in themselves.
A great math can create that moment, and then keep building on it. Once a student realises they can understand, everything changes. They become more interested, more focused, and start to enjoy solving problems. That’s when real learning begins.
Our goal is to turn the story in their head into something positive. When students gain confidence in math, they also gain confidence in themselves, and that helps them tackle challenges in school and life. That’s why we believe confidence is the most important thing we teach.
1. Keep Practising
The more your child practises, the better they get. Regular maths practice helps them remember what they’ve learned and feel more confident.
2. Explain Things Clearly
When helping with homework, explain things step by step. Be patient—it’s okay if the method is different from how you learned it. You can always check online resources to refresh your own understanding.
3. Use Real-Life Examples
Show your child how maths is part of everyday life—like measuring ingredients when cooking or finding the best deals while shopping.
4. Teach Problem-Solving Tricks
Help your child learn how to break down tricky problems. Teach them patterns, number sequences, and rules like BODMAS to make things easier.
5. Make Learning Fun
Try online games, videos, and apps that turn maths into a fun activity. Interactive tools can help your child enjoy learning.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
Give praise and encouragement, even for small progress. Positive feedback helps build confidence and keeps kids motivated.
7. Get Extra Help if Needed
If your child is still struggling, a maths tutor can make a big difference. Personal support can help them understand tough topics and boost their confidence.
Give Your Child An Excellent Math Education From a Highly Qualified Expert
