Many children feel worried or fearful when it’s time for maths. For some, numbers feel confusing; for others, it’s the fear of getting the answer “wrong” that makes them want to avoid maths altogether. This is called maths anxiety, and it’s far more common than you might think.
The good news? With gentle support — and a little creativity — parents can help children build confidence and see maths in a whole new light.
Why Do Some Children Fear Maths?
Maths anxiety can start early. A child might struggle with basic sums, feel pressured to finish work quickly, or compare themselves to classmates who seem to “get it” faster. Over time, this can lead to frustration and avoidance — which only makes it harder to keep up.
How Parents Can Help
💡 Talk openly: Let your child know it’s okay to feel nervous about maths — but remind them that they’re not alone and that everyone learns at their own pace.
💡 Celebrate small wins: Praise effort, not just correct answers. Solving one problem after struggling is a big achievement!
💡 Make maths fun and safe: Use games, puzzles, or everyday tasks like cooking or shopping to show how maths pops up in real life. The goal is to practise in small, low-pressure ways.
💡 Read stories that build confidence: A wonderful way to gently address maths anxiety is through stories children can relate to — like Twinkl’s magical eBook, The Unicorn Who Was Afraid of Maths.
A Story That Makes Maths Feel Less Scary
If your child has ever felt afraid of numbers, they might see themselves in the little unicorn from this charming eBook.
In The Unicorn Who Was Afraid of Maths, children join a magical unicorn on a journey to face its fear of numbers. With colourful illustrations and an encouraging storyline, this book helps children understand that it’s normal to feel unsure — and that they can overcome it with courage and practice.
Reading this story together is a lovely way to open up conversations about your child’s own worries. Try reading it before a maths lesson or during story time at home. Ask gentle questions like, “Have you ever felt like the little unicorn?” or “What do you think helped the unicorn feel braver?”
This simple story can make a big difference, helping your child see maths as something they can tackle, not something to fear.
Combine Stories with Fun Practice
Once your child feels a little more confident, you can help them keep building their skills in a fun way. Apps like the Twinkl Maths App are designed by teachers to turn tricky maths practice into quick, playful games. Whether they’re working on times tables or adding and subtracting, children often don’t even realise they’re learning — they’re too busy having fun!
Where to Find the Unicorn eBook
The Unicorn Who Was Afraid of Maths is available to download and print with a Twinkl membership. It’s prep-free for teachers and perfect for parents too. Simply log in, click Download Now, and enjoy story time with your child at home or on the go.
Final Thought
With your encouragement, small steps, and a sprinkle of magic, your child can face their maths fears head-on and start to see themselves as someone who can do maths, one brave step at a time.
🌟 Ready to help your child feel braver with numbers?
Download The Unicorn Who Was Afraid of Maths today and let the magic begin.
The company provides high quality, online learning materials and services, which are all teacher-created and checked.
Twinkl offers over 1 million resources, with new content added daily. This ranges from schemes of work and assessments to augmented reality games and much more.
Twinkl is used and trusted by schools and educators in over 200 countries and regions, including primary and secondary school teachers, nursery workers and parents.
Twinkl has over 1400 team members based in its two Sheffield offices and remotely around the globe, including a large team in South Africa.
More information can be found at twinkl.co.za
Our story:
The idea for Twinkl came to Jonathan and Susie Seaton when Susie was working as an Early Years teacher and couldn’t find the materials she needed for her lessons online. As a result, Susie was working evenings and weekends to make resources from scratch.
Speaking to colleagues and friends, the couple found that Susie was not alone in her situation. So, to help other teachers, they began creating and publishing educational resources online from their spare bedroom.
The business grew quickly and organically as educators embraced the high-quality materials. The team grew quickly too, with current and former teachers, as well as experts in content and design soon joining Jonathan and Susie in their mission 'to help those who teach.'
Jonathan and Susie are delighted that Twinkl is now taking this mission across the world, returning time and energy to educators that is better spent in the classroom with their pupils or on themselves at home.
