As a child, I was a bundle of nerves when it came to music. I adored singing and wanted to excel, but my pitch was all over the place. I pushed through voice and piano lessons, straining to echo the notes my teachers sang, but each lesson left me drenched in sweat. Why was something as simple as singing back a major scale so hard? The moment my teacher hit the keys and looked at me, I felt that familiar prickling anxiety creeping in. I wanted to succeed, but often fell short. The noise of my stress drowned out everything else, and eventually, I stepped away from music for nearly two decades.
Recently, my son had his first violin lesson. The teacher began by singing a scale and asked him to repeat it. Initially, he didn’t get it and hesitated—he’s five, after all, and that age is all about refusal. But after mustering some courage, he gave it a shot. From the kitchen, I felt the sweat forming on my brow in sympathy. Yet, he didn’t appear overly anxious; he looked more puzzled but relatively calm. Afterward, he joyfully sang the songs to me.
Interestingly, research shows that parents can “transmit” anxiety about specific subjects, particularly math, to their children. A study highlighted by Emma Johnson on KQED’s Mindshift blog found that parents with high levels of math anxiety, especially those who frequently assist with math homework, can inadvertently pass that anxiety to their kids.
Studies show that fear can significantly impact achievement, similar to my intense feelings about music. In children with math anxiety, the brain region responsible for managing negative emotions is overactive, while the areas involved in problem-solving take a backseat. The study revealed that the more often math-anxious parents helped with homework, the worse the situation became. It’s logical: if tackling math problems makes your heart race and fists clench, your child isn’t likely to think, “Math is a blast! I can’t wait to calculate the trajectory of an aircraft with Mom!” Instead, they will probably feel the same frustration every time they encounter “order of operations.”
This issue is particularly pressing today, as children aren’t being taught math in the same way we were. The Common Core standards have introduced new teaching methods meant to be more intuitive than the traditional rote learning styles. This shift can leave parents scratching their heads over what seem like overly complicated techniques.
So, what can we do? One option is to give kids some space while they tackle their math homework or encourage them to seek help from a teacher or tutor. Another approach is for parents to familiarize themselves with these new methods. The study’s lead author suggested that educational resources should be made available to parents to ensure kids get effective support at home.
I recently decided to pick up music lessons again, and this time around, hiring a patient and kind teacher has significantly eased my anxiety. I still worry about my son catching my fears. I want us to enjoy making music together without the shadow of perfectionism looming over us.
I suspect that math could become a similar journey. I found math stressful too, and my anxiety often overshadowed the learning process. Who knows, my son might face challenges in other areas besides music and math! But I hope he can navigate difficult subjects calmly, without letting fear drown out the fun of learning.
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Summary:
Parents can unknowingly pass on math anxiety to their children, especially if they have high levels of anxiety themselves. Children who experience math anxiety often struggle with problem-solving due to heightened negative emotions. To combat this, parents should consider giving their kids space during math homework or learning the new teaching methods to provide better support. Ultimately, fostering a calm and enjoyable learning environment is key to breaking the cycle of anxiety.