Parents… Motivation matters: How to help your child succeed in mathematics

Posted in
February 3, 2025

As parents, we all want to see our children thrive in school—especially in maths. But sometimes, no matter how much we encourage, reward, or push, our children still struggle with motivation.

Recent research confirms what many of us have suspected: motivation and academic success are deeply connected, but not in the way we might think. It turns out that success doesn’t necessarily create motivation—rather, motivation itself is a key driver of success. So, what does this mean for parents?

Motivation Fuels Success—Not Just the Other Way Around

The study found that students who were intrinsically motivated—who found joy in the learning process—were far more likely to achieve strong results in maths. On the flip side, students who were only motivated by external factors (like rewards or avoiding punishment) didn’t perform as well.

This means that pushing kids to “just work harder” or offering prizes for good grades might not be the most effective strategy. Instead, we should be focusing on how they experience maths—helping them see it as interesting, engaging, and even fun.

So, How Can Parents Help?

If motivation drives success, our goal should be to make maths an enjoyable and engaging part of everyday life. Here are some practical ways to do that:

Shift the focus from performance to learning – Instead of asking, “Did you get the right answer?” try, “What did you learn from this problem?” or “What strategy did you use?” This helps children value the process of problem-solving rather than just the outcome.

Make maths a part of daily life – Maths isn’t just about worksheets and tests! Look for opportunities to weave it into daily routines—measuring ingredients in the kitchen, estimating distances on a walk, or calculating change at the store.

Use engaging tools and games – A key takeaway from the research is that students who enjoy maths learn it better. That’s why game-based learning is so powerful. A well planned game can help children build fluency, problem-solving skills, and confidence—all while having fun. Instead of feeling like a chore, maths becomes something they want to do.

Encourage a growth mindset – Remind your child that struggling with maths is part of learning. If they say, “I’m just not good at maths,” reframe it: “You’re still learning, and your brain is growing every time you practise!”

Adjust Attitudes Toward Maths
Children often mirror the attitudes of the adults around them. If parents believe “maths is boring” or say things like “I was never a maths person,” their child is likely to adopt a similar mindset. Likewise, if a parent assumes their child “just isn’t good at maths,” the child may internalize this belief. Instead, fostering curiosity and positivity about maths—seeing it as a subject of discovery and exploration—can make a huge difference in student engagement.

Build a Strong Foundation
Fluency is critical in maths, but it must be built on true understanding. Rote memorization without comprehension leads to disengagement and forgetfulness; the antithesis to motivating! Engaging activities where students use their understanding to solve problems make learning more meaningful and memorable. The more students understand what they’re learning, the more motivated they’ll be to strengthen their fluency.

Final Thoughts

If we want our children to succeed in maths, we need to start by helping them enjoy it. By shifting our focus from grades and tests to curiosity and engagement, we can help our kids develop a lifelong love of learning—and with that, the success will follow. So, let’s make maths something our kids look forward to, not just something they endure. With the right mindset, support, and engaging tools, we can help every child build confidence and fluency in maths—one enjoyable experience at a time.

For ideas on effective games and more practical ideas, take a read of these:

Parents: How to help your child’s Mathematics learning

Let’s Play: Revolutionizing math(s) learning through play

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