Why Math is the #1 Subject Children Struggle With - and How to Fix It

Is Your Child Struggling with Math? 

If you ask most parents which subject gives their child the hardest time, the answer is almost always the same: Math. 

Math has a way of making students anxious and parents frustrated. But why is Math such a universal struggle, and more importantly, how can you help your child overcome it?

Why so many Children struggle with Math:

1. It builds on itself:  If a child misses one concept (like fractions), it makes future topics harder. Math is like a staircase. If your child misses a single step, the climb gets harder. 

Struggling with fractions today might mean struggling with algebra tomorrow. Unlike other subjects, where you can easily skip a topic and still grasp other concepts, Math doesn’t work this way. 

2. It feels abstract: Unlike reading a story, Math doesn’t feel practical or connected to real life.

   
   

Without any form of context to help a child understand a particular math topic, the child might struggle to understand what the numbers before him mean. This might feel meaningless and make him struggle or lose interest altogether. 

3. Confidence drops quickly: Once a child believes they’re bad at Math, it becomes a mental block. 

   
   

Studies show that Math anxiety can cause children to freeze, avoid homework, or shut down during tests, even if they actually know the material.

How Parents Can Help Fix It: 

1. Break it into smaller steps: Instead of solving a whole page of problems, focus on one concept or topic at a time.

For instance, master fractions before moving on to decimals. This helps Math problems easy to follow and solve. 

2. Make Math practical: To bring back interest in Math, help your child by making math practical and real.

• Cooking? Ask your child to measure ingredients.

• Grocery shopping? Let them calculate discounts.

• Sports? Track scores and averages together.

        By doing this, Math feels meaningful to them and they start to understand its usefulness in their daily activities. 

3. Encourage effort not perfection: Instead of focusing on grades alone, praise the persistence you can see.

If your child keeps trying to solve Math problems, praise them continuously. This will help to build confidence to keep trying to do better. 

4. Get Personalized support: Personalized tutoring helps to fill in the gaps that schools may miss. 

   
   

Especially for African children in Diaspora, having a tutor who understands how they learn, breaks things down step by step, and supports them with homework makes all the difference. 

When your child works with a tutor they,

• Get 1 on 1 attention they can’t always receive in a classroom.

• Learn at their own pace without feeling rushed.

• Excel in Math through consistent guidance and homework support. 

Conclusion:

With the right strategies and support, Math can easily become one of your child’s best subjects. 

Here at LOOMI, we’re helping children across Canada, UK, and  USA strengthen their Math skills. If you book this week, you get 2 weeks tuition - at no cost to you.

To book, please click the button below: 

Book Free Assessment