1. Find out what's actually behind it
"I hate math" is rarely about math itself — it's usually a symptom of something more specific: a skill gap from an earlier concept that never quite clicked, the fast pace of classroom teaching leaving no room for catching up, or simple anxiety about getting answers wrong. Listen without judgment first, rather than jumping straight to more practice — you need to know what's actually broken before you can fix it.

2. Don't agree that you hated math too
It's tempting to sympathise by saying "I was bad at math too" — but this can quietly reinforce the idea that some people just aren't "math people," giving your child permission to stop trying. Mathematical ability isn't fixed at birth; treat it the same way you'd treat a struggle with reading — as something to actively work on together, not something to shrug off.

3. Fix the gaps before moving forward
Math builds in layers, and a shaky foundation from an earlier concept makes everything after it feel impossible. Before pushing into new material, make sure basic facts and prior skills are genuinely solid — going backward briefly is often faster than plowing ahead with cracks underneath.

4. Start every session with an easy win
Begin math time with one or two problems your child already knows how to solve confidently, before introducing anything new or challenging. Starting with defeat only deepens resistance; starting with a small success resets the mindset for what follows.

5. Connect math to things they actually care about
Kids who dislike math often see it as pointless — a subject with no real destination beyond "getting the answer right." Tie it to genuine decisions instead: planning how to spend allowance, figuring out how much extra screen time is left based on a limit, splitting a snack budget at the store. This shows math as a tool for real decisions, not an abstract classroom exercise.

6. Keep sessions short and low-pressure
If your child has a short attention span, break math practice into small chunks rather than long sessions — a short burst of focused, quality work beats a long, dragged-out struggle every time.

7. Celebrate effort and mistakes, not just correct answers
Many children believe success in math means getting everything right immediately. Reframe mistakes as part of how real understanding actually develops, and notice effort and progress explicitly — not just the final score on a worksheet.

The bigger picture
None of this requires turning into a full-time math tutor. Small, consistent shifts — patience instead of pressure, real-life connection instead of worksheets alone, and protecting your child's confidence as carefully as their accuracy — tend to do far more for a reluctant learner than forcing longer study sessions ever will.