What to Do When Your Child Says 'I Hate Math'

That Dreaded Phrase

If your child has ever slammed their pencil down and muttered, “I hate math,” you're not alone. It's one of the most common things we hear from students—and one of the most disheartening for parents. Math is often a trigger for stress, low confidence, and self-doubt, especially when concepts begin to stack up too quickly.

But here's the truth: "I hate math" usually doesn't mean they actually hate math. It means they're stuck. They're frustrated. They feel like no matter how hard they try, it's just not clicking—and that’s a hard feeling to sit with, especially at a young age.

The good news? That frustration can be untangled—and turned into something better. Here’s how to understand what’s really behind those words and how to help your child move forward with clarity and confidence.

Emotional vs. Academic Avoidance

When a child says “I hate math,” the root cause is often emotional, not intellectual. They may be experiencing:

• Embarrassment about not understanding something everyone else seems to get

• Frustration from repeated mistakes and poor test scores

• Anxiety around timed tests, fast-paced lessons, or public problem-solving

• Boredom if the material feels too easy or disconnected from real life

Before jumping in with drills or extra homework, pause and ask: Is my child confused, anxious, or disengaged? The answer to that question will determine what kind of support they actually need.

Where “I Hate Math” Usually Starts

In our experience at LA Math Tutoring, that moment of math resistance often begins in upper elementary or early middle school—when math shifts from simple arithmetic to more abstract thinking (fractions, multi-step word problems, pre-algebra, etc.).

Without a solid foundation, students begin to patch their way through lessons. They rely on tricks, memorization, or help from parents—and the second they lose that crutch, the fear kicks in. The longer the confusion lasts, the louder the frustration becomes.

How to Respond as a Parent

Instead of pushing them to "just try harder" or saying, "You're just not a math person," try:

• “I hear you. Want to show me where it started feeling confusing?”

• “It’s okay to feel stuck—we can figure it out together.”

• “Sometimes it’s not the math that’s hard. It’s how it’s being taught.”

Your child may not be able to name exactly what’s wrong, but showing empathy opens the door for problem-solving. You’re not just helping them with math—you’re teaching them how to ask for help and face frustration with courage.

How Tutoring Rebuilds Confidence

The best way to reverse “I hate math” is to give your child a safe, low-pressure space to relearn at their own pace. A good tutor doesn’t just teach equations—they teach mindset, organization, and resilience.

At LA Math Tutoring, our approach is rooted in:

• Patience and encouragement, especially when students feel overwhelmed

• Customized lessons based on how your child learns best

• Small wins that rebuild trust in themselves and the learning process

We focus on creating a steady rhythm of success so students stop fearing math and start feeling in control of it.

“I Hate Math” Is a Signal—Not a Sentence

When your child says they hate math, they’re not giving up—they’re asking for help in the only way they know how. And with the right support, that frustration can turn into understanding, and even pride.

Math doesn’t have to be a battle. With the right guidance, your child can discover that math isn’t something to fear—it’s something they can learn. And once they believe that, everything changes.