Many learners who struggle with math have an “I can’t do it” attitude. Luckily, there are ways for parents and teachers to encourage and inspire children to love math. The key to inspiring children’s love for math is attitude. A negative attitude toward math may be a symptom of a bigger problem: math anxiety. Math anxiety causes students to fear math, avoid it, and underperform.

Math anxiety is contagious. Parents who hate math can influence their children to dislike math. Comments by parents, like, “I’m not a math or numbers person,” can plant in a child a negative attitude toward math. Parents can encourage a positive attitude toward math early on by talking favorably about math and sharing their love for it.

Another way to encourage kids to embrace math is to make it fun and less of a chore. Children who view learning and solving math problems as a chore or something to be endured are more likely to develop a negative attitude toward it. In contrast, learners who enjoy math tend to take pride in the process and performance and have better, long-term learning outcomes.

Integrating technology can help make learning and solving math problems more enjoyable. Some strategies for integrating technology include gamification, which frames learning as play. This boosts learner engagement, maximizes enjoyment, and fosters comprehension.

Speaking of comprehension, simply immersing students in math is not enough. Learning occurs best when students can apply the concepts taught in different contexts. When learners focus on problem-solving over memorization, they develop their narratives and explanations for how to solve various problems.

When all students know is a formula, they are prone to math anxiety should a math problem be presented in a different or abstract version later, especially in a math test. Making math visible outside the classroom and in homework contexts may help improve comprehension and retention. Using math concepts in real-world situations, such as a parent having their child help to come up with a budget for grocery expenses, fosters comprehension.

Another way to boost math comprehension among kids is to link math with existing knowledge. This helps children connect the dots and fill any gaps that might be present in their understanding of various concepts. Also, linking math to current events cultivates abstract thinking abilities and discourages memorization.

Stereotypes may predispose members of a certain group to poor learning outcomes. These stereotypes are prevalent in math learning. The idea that girls are not as good as boys are at math is limiting. Just the thought alone can cause girls to underperform in math.

Teaching students that math ability is not inborn but acquired through a positive attitude, hard work, and dedication is one of the ways to overcome such stereotypes. Another way teachers can challenge the stereotype is by not lowering expectations for certain groups or oversimplifying lessons, even as they personalize learning.

Unlike literacy and speaking skills, numeracy skills can be hard to acquire. This is because most children do not interact with numbers the same way or as often as with words. But parents can encourage a lifelong love for math in their kids by exposing children to numbers early on, making it enjoyable, and fostering math positivity.