Math doesn’t have to be a source of dread for kids. With the right approach and tools like brain exercises, you can help turn frustration into confidence and even enjoyment. It’s hardly uncommon to find a child grumbling about homework, or a parent feeling overwhelmed trying to help. But why do so many kids struggle with math? And more importantly, what can we do to change that?
Luckily, math struggles don’t have to be permanent. But how do you turn things around? Every child is different, but we’ve got some helpful strategies—from daily brain exercises to visual learning ideas—that can make a big difference in helping kids build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Why Math Feels So Hard
Math isn’t just about numbers. It’s a complex subject that requires multiple cognitive skills working together. When any of these skills are underdeveloped, math can feel overwhelming. Here are the biggest reasons why many kids struggle:
- Abstract concepts and cognitive overload: Unlike reading a story or drawing a picture, math often deals with abstract ideas. Fractions, variables, and geometric shapes don’t always connect to something tangible. This abstraction requires kids to hold multiple pieces of information in their minds at once, which can lead to cognitive overload.
- Fear, anxiety, and past negative experiences: If a child has struggled with math in the past, they may approach new problems with anxiety. This “math anxiety” creates a mental block that makes it even harder to focus and solve problems. The stress triggers a fight-or-flight response that actually impairs the brain’s ability to think clearly.
- Teaching methods and learning differences: Not all kids learn the same way. Some need visual aids, hands-on activities, or extra support for learning disabilities that isn’t always available in a typical classroom. Traditional teaching methods may not address these individual learning styles, leaving some students behind.
The Cognitive Skills Behind Math Success
Let’s look at the science behind how kids learn math. On the brain level, it mostly comes down to four cognitive abilities:
- Working memory: This allows kids to hold and manipulate information while solving problems. For example, when solving 23 + 47, they need to remember the first number while adding the second.
- Processing speed: The ability to quickly recognize patterns and recall math facts helps kids solve problems more efficiently.
- Focus and attention: Math requires sustained concentration, especially for multi-step problems.
- Visual-spatial reasoning: This helps kids understand shapes, graphs, and how numbers relate to each other spatially.
When these skills are weak, math becomes much more difficult. But here’s the encouraging part: these cognitive abilities can be strengthened with practice and the right brain exercises.
How Math Anxiety Develops
Beyond those cognitive skills, there can be emotional blocks too. Math anxiety often starts with a single negative experience—a failed test, a public mistake, or simply feeling lost in class. Over time, these experiences build up, creating a belief that “I’m just not good at math.”
This anxiety becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When kids expect to fail, their stress response kicks in, making it harder to focus and remember information. This leads to more mistakes, which reinforces the belief that they can’t do math. Breaking this cycle requires rebuilding confidence and creating positive associations with math.
Helping Kids Build Confidence and Enjoy Math Again
The path to math confidence isn’t about drilling more problems. It’s about creating a supportive environment and using smart strategies that work with how the brain learns. Here are some ideas to try with your kids:
- Make math relatable: Connect math to real life. If your child loves cooking, use recipes to practice fractions and measurements. If they’re into sports, calculate batting averages or track statistics. When math has a purpose, it becomes more engaging and less abstract.
- Celebrate progress, not perfection: Focus on improvement rather than getting every answer right. Did your child solve a problem more quickly than last week? Did they try a new strategy? Celebrate these wins to build momentum and confidence.
- Incorporate brain exercises: Just 10-15 minutes of targeted cognitive training can make a significant difference. Short, daily brain exercises like those on the Infinite Mind app strengthen the underlying skills needed for math success—working memory, processing speed, and focus.
- Encourage visual learning: Use visual aids like number lines, manipulatives, or drawing pictures to represent problems. Many kids are visual learners, and seeing math concepts represented visually helps them understand abstract ideas.
- Create a “no fear” math zone: Establish a judgment-free space where mistakes are learning opportunities, not failures. Remove time pressure during practice and let kids work at their own pace. When the stress is gone, learning becomes easier.
How Infinite Mind Can Help
The Infinite Mind app offers brain exercises specifically designed to strengthen the cognitive skills that underpin math success. Through engaging activities that feel more like games than homework, kids can improve their working memory, boost processing speed, and enhance focus—all while having fun.
The app’s science-backed approach has shown real results. In fMRI studies, Infinite Mind’s exercises increased activity across all brain areas, including those responsible for reason, memory, and conceptual learning—exactly the skills needed for math. It’s also been shown to help students improve SAT scores when used along with prep courses.
Ready to Help Your Child Succeed?
Math struggles don’t define your child’s potential. With patience, the right strategies, and brain exercises they’ll actually enjoy, you can help transform their relationship with math from frustration to confidence.
Download the app to start building those skills today with Infinite Mind. Your child’s math breakthrough could be just a few brain exercises away.
