What to do When Your Student Hates Math or Reading

Let’s be honest—if you’ve ever heard, “I hate math!” or watched your kid flop dramatically at reading time, you know the struggle is real. It doesn’t matter if you’re homeschooling, helping with homework after school, or just trying to survive another weeknight meltdown—this battle happens in every kind of household. But here’s the thing: when kids say they hate a subject, it usually doesn’t mean they can’t do it. It just means we’ve got to change the game.

Get Curious, Not Critical

When kids push back, it’s usually not laziness—it’s frustration or feeling stuck. Before you get into power-struggle mode, pause and ask: “What’s making this so hard?” Sometimes it’s fractions. Sometimes it’s a boring book. Sometimes it’s just confidence. Pay attention to the clues:

• They freeze at word problems but fly through multiplication facts.

• They read the words fine but can’t tell you what the story means.

• They roll their eyes and cross their arms the second a book comes out.

Instead of thinking, “Why won’t you just do it?” think, “What part is tripping you up?” Curiosity changes everything.

Make It Real

Let’s face it—endless worksheets and dry novels don’t exactly scream fun. So sneak learning into real life:

• Math: measuring flour for brownies, comparing prices at Target, figuring out tip at a restaurant.

• Reading: comic books (Dog Man, anyone?), recipes, sports stats, or even game instructions.

When kids see that math and reading actually matter in their world, the whining usually dials down.

Small Wins > Big Battles

Imagine your child staring at a whole page of math like it’s Mount Everest. Too much. Instead, break it down:

• “Let’s just do three problems.”

• “Read one page, then we’ll switch.”

• Set a timer for 10 minutes and call it a win.

Celebrate the tiny victories. Stick a star on a chart. Do a high five dance. End on success so they remember, “Hey, I actually did it.” Confidence grows in small bites.

Switch It Up

If the usual routine is leading to tears (yours or theirs), change it up:

• Math games: War with cards (bigger number wins), Yahtzee (addition + probability), or cooking (fractions in disguise).

• Reading swaps: audiobooks + following along, graphic novels, or even karaoke lyrics. Yes, belting out Let It Go totally counts as reading.

• Movement learning: spelling words while bouncing a ball, math facts with sidewalk chalk, or reading signs on a neighborhood walk.

Sometimes it’s not that they hate the subject—it’s that they’re bored of the format.

When to Call in Backup

Here’s the truth: sometimes your child just needs to hear it from someone else. And that’s where a tutor comes in. A good tutor:

• Explains things in a fresh way.

• Brings fun activities that you don’t have to plan.

• Gives kids a safe space to ask questions without feeling judged.

• Removes the “mom vs. kid” or “dad vs. kid” tension so you can just be the parent again.

Sometimes a new face and a new strategy can flip the whole mood around.

Here’s Your Encouragement

If your child “hates” math or reading right now, it doesn’t mean they always will. With a little creativity, patience, and maybe some outside help, you can turn those eye-roll moments into “I get it!” breakthroughs. Learning isn’t about being perfect—it’s about making progress. And every little step counts.

So next time your kid groans at a book or slams the math book shut, take a breath. Try one new trick. And remind yourself—you’ve got this, and so do they.

Need extra support? At Reach Your Peake, we specialize in helping kids (and future teachers!) move from frustration to confidence in math, reading, and beyond. With 20 years of experience and personalized strategies that fit real families, we’re here to turn those tough moments into victories. Whether your child needs one-on-one tutoring or you’re an aspiring teacher prepping for exams, we’ll be in your corner. Because no one should feel stuck on their learning journey. Please email me at kim@reachyourpeake.com