Is your child struggling with math phobia? Here’re five interactive ways to combat the fear of numbers

Many of us are familiar with the fear of numbers and the anxious urge to escape math. Dubbed ‘math phobia’, this fear may arise from past negative experiences related to the subject - such as poor academic performance, mounting exam pressure, public embarrassment and more. Whatever the reason, as we start fearing maths, it daunts us throughout life. That’s why many parents struggle to help their children with math and unwittingly pass on ‘arithmophobia’ or ‘numerophobia’ to them.
The impact of math phobia is not limited to our academic performance. As we grow older, it also affects our ability to find logical solutions to real-world problems. Studies claim that a child’s success in life is directly proportional to their problem-solving and computational capabilities. As parents and teachers both shape a child’s brain, both must understand and encourage love for the subject from an early age. 

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So, what is math anxiety?
Math anxiety is a negative emotion associated with the subject that makes us panic while solving math problems. However, this anxiety is not necessarily due to bad computational capabilities. In fact, one could be great with numbers but still find it difficult to overcome math fear. That is because the anxious thoughts in your brain take up the space that actually should be used to solve math problems. One of the easiest ways to tackle this fear is through interactive math learning - such as playing puzzles or games, which goes a long way in fostering love for math. 
Although math phobia is common among both children and adults, it’s easier to foster math love in children during their formative years. Here’re five fun and interactive ways you can help your little ones tackle arithmophobia and build number skills with confidence: 

All you need to know about math concepts

1. Including math in daily activities
Some of our daily activities - like buying groceries, cooking and sorting - involve math. So, it’ll be wise to engage your child in calculating the amount, measuring quantities, telling time, checking shapes and counting, etc. Introduce kids to the real-life applications of math at an early age to help them improve their reasoning and logical thinking.

2. Playing board games
Introducing children to board games that promote basic arithmetic skills - such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division - is one of the most interesting ways to help kids grasp math concepts early on in life.

3. Solving math puzzles
Visually interesting math puzzles can stimulate a child’s brain to develop their reasoning skills. Solving these math puzzles promotes critical thinking and problem-solving ability in children, helping them to build resilience and a growth mindset. 

4. Studying with flashcards
Flashcards are a proven method of building kids’ memory. Learning shapes, numbers, counting, addition, subtraction and math facts with visually rich flashcards can be beneficial in many ways.

5. Learning through visual cues 
Learning math concepts through visual cues helps children break down complex math concepts into easier-to-grasp and simpler forms. By going through pictures, charts, infographics and tools like an abacus, children can easily memorise and apply hands-on knowledge of math.