Five warning signs your child is struggling with math, and what you can do

A new report from Tutor Doctor is shedding light on a growing concern among parents, math struggles. Based on a year of firsthand inquiries from families, the 10-page report outlines why students fall behind, what’s at stake if they don’t catch up, and what solutions actually work.

Released on October 7^th, 2025, the findings reveal an alarming trend: more parents are seeking math help than ever before, and the problem runs deeper than poor test scores.

• Math tops all subjects. Nearly 45% of all parent inquiries focused on math more than any other subject.
• Emotional toll. Over 20% of messages included urgent, emotionally charged language, showing how math stress affects entire families.
• Foundational gaps persist. Pandemic disruptions made existing learning gaps worse. In 2024, half of Grade 6 students failed to meet the provincial math standard.
• Math anxiety on the rise. Between 20% and 30% of students now experience math-related anxiety, sometimes as early as Grade 1.

A 2025 Education Week survey found that 67% of U.S. teachers believe math anxiety directly affects learning.

Tutor Doctor’s Education Experience Specialist, Becky Ward, sees these struggles firsthand, “The students who come to us often already believe they are bad at math, and that belief holds them back,” she explains. “Breaking through that mindset is half the battle.”

The report, titled “5 Signs Your Child Might Need Extra Help With Math,” identifies five key warning signs every parent should know.

1. Falling behind on foundational skills

Math is like building a house. Without a solid foundation, everything above it crumbles. When children struggle with fractions, decimals, or basic equations, each new concept becomes harder to grasp.

What to look for at home:

• Repeated struggles with homework
• Lower test scores despite hard work
• Frustration, or tears when facing new topics

2. Feeling lost in a one-size-fits-all classroom

Many teachers lack sufficient training to support every learner. In fact, only one in eight teacher trainees report receiving enough math instruction to teach it confidently. Students who learn differently often feel left behind in this system.

3. Showing signs of math anxiety

According to studies from BrainsCAN (2023) and Education Week (2025), math anxiety affects up to 30% of students. Anxiety can manifest as:

• Meltdowns before tests
• Headaches or stomach aches on math days
• Shutting down completely during lessons

4. Asking “what’s the point?”

When children can’t connect math to real life, motivation disappears. Without understanding the “why” behind lessons, they disengage. Relevance is key; students need to see how math applies to their world, from budgeting to building.

5. Confidence and identity taking a hit

Math struggles often erode a child’s self-esteem. A 2025 Education Week survey found that 67% of U.S. teachers believe math anxiety directly affects learning. Students begin to internalize failure, defining themselves as “not a math person.” Over time, this mindset can limit academic and career opportunities.

Ward emphasizes that confidence and competence grow together. “Once students start believing they can do math, everything changes,” she says. Personalized, one-on-one tutoring helps rebuild confidence, close learning gaps, and create long-term success.

The report calls on schools and policymakers to take math anxiety seriously and to support early interventions that address both academic and emotional needs. Parents who want to explore the full findings can visit tutordoctor.com/math-findings-report2025.