Why Math Is So Difficult for Children
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Mathematics. It's a subject that many children don't enjoy. As a parent, you've likely observed this too, haven't you?
Many children will struggle with math at some point in their schooling. It's not uncommon to hear students complain that they hate math because "it's too hard." But why do so many students seem to share this opinion? What makes mathematics so difficult for students to learn?
We're here to help answer these questions. Read on to find out why so many students struggle to succeed in math class. And what are the actionable levers you have as parents to help your children improve.
Different Types of Difficulties
Dyscalculia: A Common Cause of Difficulty.
Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty that causes students to struggle with assimilating formulas, shapes, and concepts related to numbers. Therefore, it is hard for them to understand and process mathematical problems.
These students are typically far behind their peers in math and have difficulties with number-related problems.
We've written a dedicated article on dyscalculia and its solutions.
Dyscalculia: Solving Your Child's Learning Difficulties
Math Anxiety
Students suffering from math anxiety don't just have an aversion to math—for them, math provokes debilitating feelings of fear and failure that harm their abilities.
The pressure and lack of self-confidence these students feel when faced with math cause their brain to freeze and forget everything they know.
Poor Foundations
Difficulties in mathematics aren't always the result of a learning difficulty. For many students who struggle with math, it's simply because they lack the necessary foundational skills to succeed.
These students may have fallen behind in a unit or moved on to more advanced material before they were ready, leading to a drop in grades.
Why Are So Many Students' Math Difficulties Hard to Identify?
Mathematics is a very abstract subject. For students, learning is generally best when they can relate it to real life.
When mathematics becomes more advanced and difficult, this can be hard to do.
Consequently, many students have to work harder and practice longer to understand more abstract mathematical concepts.
Difficulties Inherent to the Nature of Mathematics
Room Only for Accuracy
Unlike many other subjects, there is no room for error when it comes to mathematics. Your child either understands what they are doing or they don't. There is no in-between.
This is why math can quickly become a frustrating and stressful experience for students.
A Cumulative Discipline
Mathematics is a cumulative subject—everything builds upon what came before. Your child must know the basics before they can move on to new topics.
If your child starts to fall behind in one area, it can be very difficult to make sense of the advanced concepts they are learning without that foundational knowledge.
Actionable Difficulties
Apprehension of Difficulty
It's a classic case of a self-fulfilling prophecy: students expect it to be hard, and it is. When students expect mathematics to be difficult, they are quicker to give up when they don't understand something.
Such a negative mindset can quickly turn into a self-perpetuating vicious cycle leading to a lack of confidence, motivation, and poor performance.
Memorization Over Understanding
For many students, mathematics is a subject where they just memorize concepts and formulas without truly understanding them.
This may work for a while, but as students progress and encounter harder problems, many find they don't know how to solve them because they lack the problem-solving skills needed to tackle new problems.
A Reputation as a Boring Subject
Mathematics has a reputation as an unpopular mix of difficult and boring. Many students simply aren't enthusiastic about learning math.
When students aren't enthusiastic, they tend to do the bare minimum before moving on to something they'd rather do, which won't help them succeed in math class.
The Demand for Practice
Mathematics isn't something students just "get" automatically—it takes time and practice to understand math.
Since many students dislike math, it can be hard to get them to sit down and practice. Without this practice, students may struggle to keep up with what they're learning because they haven't yet mastered the basics.
Therefore, it's important to push your child to practice, even if it means insisting.
Children Move On Before Mastering Material
In many classes, a "satisfactory" grade means your child has an adequate understanding of the material. And that's usually enough for them to move on to the next unit or grade level.
In mathematics, a "C" or "Developing" grade means your child is missing foundational elements needed to succeed in the future (remember: math is cumulative!).
Because math builds on itself, that "C" means the next unit or class will be even harder as long as your child hasn't mastered previous topics.
Other Solutions to Help Children
The Abacus: A Simple and Effective Way to Learn
An effective solution to help a child struggling with mathematics can be to teach them the abacus.
The abacus, by its nature, helps the child visualize numbers and can reduce the intangible and overly theoretical aspect of math for many students.
Benefits of Learning the Abacus
Furthermore, unlike other remedial solutions like private tutoring, this solution is inexpensive and has the potential to give your child an advantage over their peers.
