Where This Article Came From; This article came to Greatful Moments through Kandice V. with Spirit of Math, who reached out to us about helping parents recognize some of the challenges children can face with math at the beginning of a new school year.
As someone who homeschooled my son Charlie, I know firsthand that children don’t all learn the same way. What works beautifully for one child may leave another child completely frustrated. And sometimes the problem isn’t that a child can’t learn something. Sometimes they simply haven’t found the way that works for them yet.
That is one of the reasons I wanted to share this Q&A.
Math can become one of those subjects where a child decides very early, “I’m just not good at this.” Once a child starts believing that, it can affect much more than a math worksheet. It can affect their confidence, their willingness to try, and even how they see themselves as a learner.
So when I was given the opportunity to ask Kim Langen, CEO and Co-Founder of Spirit of Math, some questions about helping children develop a healthier relationship with math, I wanted to know what parents should actually be watching for — and what we can do at home without turning every evening into another classroom.
A Little About Kim Langen and Spirit of Math
Kimberley Langen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Spirit of Math. According to Spirit of Math, she launched the first Spirit of Math class in 1995 with 35 students in the basement of her home. Today, she leads Spirit of Math Schools and its broader educational work.
Spirit of Math has been focused on advanced mathematics education for more than 30 years. Its approach is designed to challenge high-performing students while also developing confidence, problem-solving skills, collaboration and a love of learning.
But for me, the part that stood out in this conversation isn’t simply about getting better grades in math.
It is about helping a child believe they can learn.
And that is something I think every parent can understand.
Kim Langen Answers Our Questions
1. The first few weeks of a new school year can tell parents a lot about how a child is feeling about math. What are some signs parents should watch for that may indicate a child is struggling or losing confidence?
Kim Langen:
Ask your child if they like math, not just if they can do it.
Watch for avoidance. Is your child lying about their math work? Finding other things to do? Procrastinating? Crying? Refusing to do the work?
A child may hide their homework, not want help, or simply not want to talk about math.
The biggest sign is when a child says, “It’s okay if I’m not good in math. My teacher told me that.”
Don’t ignore it. Investigate.
Encourage curiosity and use math in everyday situations. This is especially important as AI continues to change the way we work and the skills children will need in the future.
2. What are some simple ways parents can help build a child’s math confidence at home without turning family time into another school lesson?
Kim Langen:
Parents should show passion for learning and sincere interest.
Sit with your child. Ask about what they are learning. Try the work with them. Tell them it is “cool.”
The kitchen table can be one of the best places because challenges can surface there.
Show your child that making mistakes and being uncertain are okay. Stay patient and celebrate small wins.
Math is built from small skills. Break problems down into the first part, the second part, and so on.
Help your child see that they know more than they think they do.
Remember that parents have more years of learning than their children. Don’t expect your child to automatically understand something that seems obvious to you as an adult.
3. If a child says, “I’m just not good at math,” how should a parent respond? What can we do to help children develop a more positive attitude toward math?
Kim Langen:
Believe in your child and show it.
Ask them why they say, “I’m just not good at math.” Listen to them and address their concerns.
Be there through the hard times.
Success builds courage and self-belief, and eventually it can lead to liking math.
Solve the little problems before the big ones. Congratulate your child on the outcome and their progress rather than focusing only on the initial problem.
4. Are there everyday activities—such as cooking, shopping, games, or planning—that parents can use to naturally practice math skills with their children?
Kim Langen:
There are lots of ways to bring math into everyday life.
Try counting items by 2s, 3s, or other numbers.
Practice times tables while walking to bed or walking to the fridge. Recite them with each step, then speed up or run.
Put a sticky note with a math fact or problem on the fridge before your child can open it to get food.
When grocery shopping, have children calculate the total for multiple items or work out the unit price. For example, if 10 avocados cost $5, what does each avocado cost?
Read articles that contain numbers and talk about what those numbers mean. Discuss whether quantities are huge or small, whether something is an estimate or a fact, and whether the numbers seem correct.
Cooking is another great opportunity. Double a recipe or estimate the difference between a teaspoon and tablespoon in your hand.
Car rides can also be a time for quick questions and drills. With older children, ask questions involving speed, distance and time.
I really like this idea of making math part of life instead of making it something that only happens when a workbook comes out.
Because let’s be honest — math is already everywhere. We use it when we shop. We use it when we cook. We use it when we’re trying to figure out whether something is actually a good deal. We use it when we’re planning a trip, watching the clock, measuring something, budgeting money or figuring out how long it will take to get somewhere.
And sometimes children don’t realize they are doing math because we’re not sitting there saying, “Okay, everybody. It is now time for today’s math lesson.” That’s especially important to me because of our homeschooling experience.
Charlie didn’t learn the way a traditional classroom expected him to learn. We found ways to make learning work for him. Games, puzzles, audiobooks and hands-on activities could turn something that looked difficult on paper into something he could actually understand.
That is why I really connected with the idea of celebrating the little wins. Sometimes you have to get through the little problem before you can tackle the big one. And sometimes a child needs somebody sitting beside them saying, “You can do this. I know you can.”
Not because we are pretending something is easy. But because we believe they are capable of learning it. I also love Kim’s reminder that parents have years of learning that our children haven’t had yet. We forget that sometimes. Something may seem incredibly simple to us because we’ve seen it hundreds of times. Our child is seeing it for the first time. That doesn’t mean they aren’t smart. It means they’re learning.
If there is one thing I would want a parent reading this to remember, it is this: Don’t let “I’m not good at math” become your child’s identity. Listen to where that statement is coming from. Maybe they are struggling with one particular skill. Maybe they missed something earlier that they now need to build on.
Maybe they are embarrassed because everyone else seems to understand something faster. Maybe they simply haven’t found the right way to learn it yet. Whatever the reason, that sentence is worth stopping for. Ask questions. Sit beside them. Make mistakes together. Find math in the kitchen, the grocery store, the car and everyday life. Celebrate the little victories. And most of all, let your child see that you believe they can learn. Because sometimes confidence doesn’t come before we try. Sometimes confidence comes because somebody loved us enough to sit beside us while we tried.
A special thank-you to Kandice V. with Spirit of Math for reaching out to Greatful Moments and for arranging this written Q&A with Kim Langen, CEO and Co-Founder of Spirit of Math. We appreciate Kim taking the time to answer our questions and share practical ideas parents can use at home — especially during the beginning of a new school year. To learn more about Spirit of Math, its approach to mathematics education and its programs for students, visit Spirit of Math. And as always, thank you for stopping by Greatful Moments.
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Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
