Another thing is that even very basic math concepts can be hard to explain in a way that makes sense to kids. For example, if you have to explain why multiplying unlike fractions works one way whereas adding unlike fractions requires an entirely different procedure, lots of parents have no idea other than "that's just how I learned it."
The transcripts included in the research paper "Mathematics in the Home" (PDF: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicole_Else-Quest/public...) are really telling. Parents who are comfortable with math will tend to ask their kids questions and give little hints when they're stuck, whereas parents that are uncomfortable with math will tend to just blurt out the solution whenever things are taking too long, or encourage strict adherence to one particular heuristic for finding a solution. Over the long haul, the result is that mathematics will start to look like just one long arbitrary list of rules. Of course, that's no fun, and so kids of mathophobes become mathophobes themselves.
Plenty of help available, though, for people who do want to help their kids: "Help Your Kids with Math: A visual problem solver for kids and parents", "Math Power: How to Help Your Child Love Math, Even If You Don't", "What Can I Do to Help My Child with Math When I Don't Know Any Myself?"
The transcripts included in the research paper "Mathematics in the Home" (PDF: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicole_Else-Quest/public...) are really telling. Parents who are comfortable with math will tend to ask their kids questions and give little hints when they're stuck, whereas parents that are uncomfortable with math will tend to just blurt out the solution whenever things are taking too long, or encourage strict adherence to one particular heuristic for finding a solution. Over the long haul, the result is that mathematics will start to look like just one long arbitrary list of rules. Of course, that's no fun, and so kids of mathophobes become mathophobes themselves.
Plenty of help available, though, for people who do want to help their kids: "Help Your Kids with Math: A visual problem solver for kids and parents", "Math Power: How to Help Your Child Love Math, Even If You Don't", "What Can I Do to Help My Child with Math When I Don't Know Any Myself?"