Math anxiety is a reaction of tension or fear toward numbers, not a lack of ability or laziness. A child can know exactly how to solve a subtraction problem and still go blank in front of a test, because the issue isn't what they know, it's what they feel when they have to use it. This guide is for parents who notice their child getting nervous, avoiding homework, or complaining of a stomachache before a math test, and want to understand what's happening and how to help without making it worse.
What is math anxiety?
Math anxiety is the tension, worry, or fear that shows up around a task involving numbers, even in children who understand the content well. It isn't the same as «not being good at math»: a child with math anxiety can master a topic at home and still freeze when applying it, because emotion takes over the space reasoning should occupy.
It can appear at any age, though it tends to show up most between ages 8 and 12, when math starts requiring several steps in a row. Catching it early keeps the child from avoiding the subject altogether, and it's the first step to actually helping them.
