Parents' math anxiety undermines children.

• Position: Homework

Children of math-anxious parents learn less math over the school year and are more likely to be math-anxious themselves--but only when these parents provide frequent help on the child's math homework, according to researchers at the University of Chicago (III.).

Previous research from this group has established that, when teachers are anxious about math, their students learn less math during the school year. The current study Is the first to establish a link between parents' and children's math anxiety. These findings suggest that adults' attitudes toward math can play an Important role in children's math achievement.

"We often don't think about how important parents' own attitudes are in determining their children's academic achievement, but our work suggests that, If a parent is walking around saying, 'Oh, I don't like math' or This stuff confuses me,' kids pick up on this messaging and it affects their success," explains Sian Bellock, professor of psychology.

Adds Susan Levine, Rebecca Anne Boylan Professor of Education and Society in Psychology: "Math-anxious parents may be less effective in explaining math concepts to children, and may not respond well...