“I’m Not a Maths Person” – Why That’s the Wrong Message for Your Child

You’re sitting at the kitchen table, watching your child wrestle with a tricky homework question. They look up, frustrated. To reassure them, you let slip:

“Don’t worry, I was never any good at maths either.”

The label isn't helpful

You mean well, but here’s the uncomfortable truth: that small comment builds a ceiling above your child’s head. You’ve made maths sound like something you either ‘have’ or you don’t. A club they might never get into.

Maths Isn’t in Your Blood – It’s in Your Practice

Let’s be blunt: nobody is born with a maths gene. You don’t inherit algebra the way you inherit eye colour. Maths is learned, just like riding a bike or cooking a meal. Some pick it up quickly, others need more time and a few wobbles along the way. That’s normal.

If a child falls off their bike, you’d never say “Well, you’re just not a bike person.” You’d help them get back on. So why let them give up on maths?

How Labels Really Work

When you say, “I’m not a maths person,” children listen. Worse – they believe it applies to them, too. It’s the start of a fixed mindset: “If Mum or Dad couldn’t do it, maybe I can’t either.”

This mindset is limited. It makes children avoid challenge, hide mistakes, and settle for less. That’s not a maths problem – that’s a confidence problem.

What You Can Say Instead

Swap the label for belief in effort. Here’s what that sounds like in real life:

– “You might not get this yet – but you will.”– “Maths took me practice too, and I’m still learning.”– “It’s normal to get stuck – let’s figure it out together.”

Show them that progress comes through trying, failing, trying again – not just ‘being clever’.

Real Stories – Letting Go of the Label

I’ve worked with plenty of adults who spent years convinced they “weren’t maths people”. One dad needed to pass a work exam – terrified at first, convinced he’d fail. But when he stopped hiding behind the label and actually gave it a go, he surprised himself. He passed, and more importantly, he stopped dreading numbers with his own kids.

It’s not magic. It’s mindset.

If You’ve Used the Label – You’re Not Alone

Ask yourself:– Did calling yourself “not a maths person” ever help you get better?– Or did it just make you avoid it?

What if you dropped that label, for your child’s sake if not your own?

What Children Really Need to Hear

Next time, try saying:

– “Maths can be tough, but you’ll get it bit by bit.”– “I used to find this hard, but it got easier.”– “Let’s work through it – neither of us needs to be perfect.”

You’re not just teaching maths – you’re teaching grit, patience, and how to keep going when things get tough.

Want Your Child to Build Real Confidence?

At Arora Maths Tuition, we:

– Build confidence in small, supportive groups (online or in Slough)

– Celebrate every bit of progress – not just perfection

– Prove to kids (and adults) that maths is something you grow into, not something you’re born with.

📍 Summer and September spaces are open. Drop me a message if you want to change the story your child tells themselves about maths.

Let’s drop the labels.

Let’s build something better.

Let’s show your child what they’re really capable of.

– Kiran