Building Maths Confidence: 7 Proven Strategies for Supporting Your Child

I still remember clearly the look of anxiety on Ella's face when she first came into my classroom. She was bright, curious, and eager to learn—but maths had become her personal nemesis. "I'm just not good at maths," she'd sigh, shoulders slumped. Perhaps you've seen that same expression on your child's face, too. As a former classroom maths teacher and now an online tutor, I've encountered countless students who struggle with self-belief in maths. But here's the reassuring truth: maths confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build.

If you're a parent of a child studying maths up to A-Level or IB level, you might wonder how best to support them. Whether you're living in the UK or abroad, the challenges are similar—and so are the solutions. Let's explore seven practical, proven strategies to help your child develop lasting confidence in mathematics.

1. Cultivate a Positive Attitude Towards Maths

Your attitude towards maths significantly influences your child's perception of the subject (Boaler, 2016). If you find yourself saying things like "I was never good at maths," pause for a moment. Children are incredibly perceptive—they absorb our attitudes and anxieties. Instead, try modelling enthusiasm and curiosity about maths in everyday life.

For example, when baking biscuits together at home, casually ask your child: "If we double this recipe, how much flour will we need?" Simple conversations like these demonstrate that maths is practical, relevant, and even enjoyable.

2. Encourage a Growth Mindset

The concept of a growth mindset—developed by psychologist Carol Dweck—emphasises that intelligence and abilities can develop through effort and perseverance (Dweck, 2006). Praising your child's effort rather than innate talent helps them understand that mistakes and struggles are natural parts of learning.

Instead of saying "You're so clever!" after they solve a tricky problem, try something like: "You worked really hard on that—I admire your perseverance." This subtle shift encourages resilience and persistence in the face of challenges.

3. Normalise Mistakes as Opportunities for Learning

Mistakes are inevitable—and valuable—in mathematics learning (Metcalfe, 2017). They provide essential feedback about what we understand and where we need improvement. Encourage your child to see mistakes not as failures but as stepping stones towards deeper understanding.

I often share with my students how I once spent an entire evening puzzling over an algebra problem, only to realise I'd missed something obvious. Sharing personal anecdotes like this reassures children that everyone—even teachers—makes mistakes.

4. Integrate Maths Games and Interactive Activities

Who said learning maths has to be dull? Games are fantastic tools for building numeracy skills while having fun (Ramani & Siegler, 2023). Board games such as Monopoly or card games like Rummikub provide enjoyable ways to practise addition, subtraction, multiplication—and even strategic thinking.

A family game night featuring Monopoly or Yahtzee can transform maths practice from a chore into a bonding experience filled with laughter—and perhaps some friendly competition!

5. Set Realistic Goals and Celebrate Progress

Setting achievable goals is crucial for building confidence (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Break down complex tasks into smaller steps so your child experiences regular successes along the way.

Build your child's maths confidence from an early age!

For instance, if calculus feels overwhelming initially, start by mastering foundational concepts such as differentiation rules before moving onto more complex applications. Remember to celebrate each milestone—no matter how small it seems—as acknowledging these moments boosts motivation and reinforces self-belief.

6. Connect Maths to Real-Life Contexts

Mathematics surrounds us every day—from budgeting pocket money purchases at Tesco's checkout counter to calculating travel times during family trips abroad (Askew et al., 2015). Making these connections explicit helps children see mathematics as practical rather than abstract theory confined solely within textbooks.

Next time you're grocery shopping together ask questions like: "If apples cost £1 per kilogramme and we buy two kilogrammes plus bananas costing 45 p each—how much do we spend altogether?" Such real-world applications make maths tangible—and dare I say enjoyable?

7. Know When (and How) to Seek Additional Support

Sometimes parents feel overwhelmed when their child struggles academically—and that's completely understandable! Recognising when external support might be beneficial demonstrates wisdom rather than weakness (Epstein et al., 2019). Online tutoring platforms or supplementary resources tailored specifically for UK curriculum or IB students can offer personalised guidance suited exactly to your child's needs.

And remember: seeking help isn't admitting defeat; it's empowering your child with additional tools for success!

Final Thoughts: Building Lifelong Confidence Beyond Maths

Supporting our children through their mathematical journeys isn't always easy—I completely understand! There will inevitably be moments when frustration creeps in—for both parent and student alike—but patience truly pays off here.

Remember Ella from earlier? After months spent nurturing her mindset towards positivity around mistakes coupled with engaging activities—we celebrated together when she confidently aced her exams!

Ultimately though—the goal isn't just better grades but fostering lifelong resilience towards challenges beyond mathematics itself because let's face it: life throws plenty at us requiring problem-solving skills daily!

So take heart—you've got this parenting thing down pat already—and armed now with these strategies—you've got everything needed not just to build but sustain lasting mathematical confidence within your child's educational journey.

As parents ourselves—or teachers who care deeply—we're all on this journey together. Maths doesn't have to be daunting; with patience, positivity and practical strategies like these—you'll soon see confidence flourish in ways you've always hoped for!

References

Askew, M., Hodgen, J., Hossain, S., & Bretscher, N. (2015) Values and variables: Mathematics education in high-performing countries. London: Nuffield Foundation.

Boaler, J. (2016) Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students' Potential through Creative Math. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Dweck, C.S. (2006) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House Publishing Group.

Epstein, J.L., Sanders, M.G., Sheldon S.B., Simon B.S., Salinas K.C., Jansorn N.R., & Van Voorhis F.L. (2019) School, Family and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.

Hattie, J., & Timperley H. (2007) 'The power of feedback', Review of Educational Research, 77(1), pp.81–112.

Metcalfe, J. (2017) 'Learning from errors', Annual Review of Psychology, 68(1), pp.465–489.

Ramani G.B., & Siegler R.S. (2023) 'Promoting broad and stable improvements in low-income children's numerical knowledge through playing number board games', Child Development Perspectives, 17(1), pp.28–34.