What is Maths anxiety?
What every teacher, school leader and parent needs to know.
Maths anxiety isn’t about ability. It’s the feeling of panic, tension, or helplessness that many children (and adults) experience when faced with a maths problem to solve.
It shows up in small ways, a blank stare, a sudden trip to sharpen a pencil, a child rushing through work to “get it over with.” On the surface, it can look like distraction or misbehaviour. But underneath is fear.
Fear of getting it wrong.
Fear of being put on the spot.
Fear of not being “a maths person.”
Why it matters
Maths anxiety isn’t rare. It affects far more children than most people realise. It’s not just a handful of learners struggling, it’s a widespread, measurable challenge that quietly shapes how children think, feel and behave in maths lessons. Left unaddressed, it can limit their progress, narrow their choices and significantly impact their confidence. Research shows:
The impact on teachers
Maths anxiety doesn’t stop with children, it reaches teachers too. Anyone who has stood in front of a class knows the feeling… the silence that lingers when a question lands, the rush to cover content, the weight of knowing some children are quietly switching off.
Our founders know this better than most. They’ve felt it in their own classrooms, in different countries and contexts, and it left a mark. That’s why Awesomenicity exists, not as another quick fix, but as a genuine change for teachers and students alike.
Because when anxiety lifts, something remarkable happens. Classrooms feel lighter, teachers find joy in teaching again and children begin to see themselves differently. Not as someone who “can’t do maths,” but as mathematicians in the making.
How Maths anxiety affects parents
At home, maths anxiety can be just as visible. Children may:
Avoid homework or “forget” to bring it home.
Say “I’m just not good at maths.”
Show physical signs of stress before tests or lessons.
Parents often feel helpless, wanting to support their child but unsure how, especially if they carry their own memories of maths anxiety from school.
Well-meaning phrases like “I was never good at maths” or “This is easy, let me show you” can reinforce anxiety rather than confidence.
Breaking the cycle
So, here is the good news. Maths anxiety is not permanent. With the right support, children can rebuild confidence and rediscover curiosity.
That’s why we created Awesomenicity. This is not another worksheet bank or speed-drill app, but a complete primary maths resource designed to reduce anxiety and build confidence.
Here’s how we help:
Multiple entry points
Learners can choose their challenge without fear. Every lesson offers several ways in, allowing children to start where they feel confident and move forward at their own pace. This builds ownership, reduces pressure and keeps even anxious learners engaged.
Concrete/ Visual/ Abstract Progression
To make concepts less intimidating. Ideas grow gradually from hands-on objects, to clear visual models, to symbolic notation and helping children understand why maths works, not just how to follow steps.
Inquiry and discussion
To replace silence with conversation. Guided questions, partner talk and open prompts encourage learners to explore, explain, and reason. This encourages learners to build mathematical thinking through dialogue rather than quiet compliance.
Games and puzzles
That turn practice into play. Repetitive skills become enjoyable through challenges, story-led activities and playful problem-solving, giving children the fluency they need without the drill-and-thrill fatigue.
Teacher support build in
Doubling every lesson as CPD. Each resource includes prompts, models and reasoning guides that help teachers feel confident in the maths behind the lesson, strengthening subject knowledge at the same time as teaching it.
UDL-informed design
Removing barriers and making learning accessible. Lessons are structured to offer choice, reduce cognitive load and celebrate varied approaches, ensuring every child can participate meaningfully, whatever their starting point.
Why now
Maths anxiety doesn’t wait until secondary school, it often shows up as early as ages 6–7 (OECD, 2019). By the time children reach upper primary, many have already internalised an identity: “I’m good at maths” or “Maths just isn’t for me.” And once that belief sets in, it can quietly influence everything that follows, their confidence, their willingness to try, the subjects they choose and even the careers they imagine for themselves.
That’s why this moment matters. These early years offer a unique window where attitudes are still forming and change is genuinely possible. With the right support, an inclusive classroom culture and resources designed to reduce pressure while building deep understanding, we can interrupt the anxiety cycle before it becomes entrenched.
Maths anxiety doesn’t have to shape a child’s future and right now is the best chance we have to rewrite that story.
Stop the anxiety cycle and start building confidence
Maths should never be a source of dread. It should be discovery, discussion and delight.
With Awesomenicity, we aim to turn “I can’t” into “I get it.”
When that shift happens, lessons feel lighter, classrooms hum with curiosity and children begin to see themselves as capable mathematicians.