Math Anxiety’s Shaky Bridge: Brenda Terry’s Plan to Get ADHD Kids Across
Picture your ADHD kiddo staring at a rickety suspension bridge—math class—planks missing, gaps yawning, and a gut-clenching fear of falling through. That’s the vivid analogy host Kristyn Pierfelice and guest Brenda Terry unpack on their podcast, spotlighting how ADHD turns numbers into nightmares. But Brenda, a savvy educator, isn’t tossing a flimsy rope—she’s got a neuroscience-backed blueprint to steady that bridge, plank by plank. From emotional regulation to tailored tools, she’s showing parents and teachers how to guide kids confidently across, not just crawling, but striding. If your child’s math woes spark tears or tantrums, this one’s your lifeline.
The Wobbly Start: Fear’s Math Meltdown
Kristyn sets the scene: a math bridge with holes big enough to swallow dreams—graduation, life skills, confidence. For ADHD kids, it’s not just shaky—it’s paralyzing. Brenda jumps in, pinpointing the culprit: a revved-up nervous system. “Fear stops higher-level thinking,” she says, citing a University of Chicago study where math-anxious brains lit up emotionally, not logically, until regulation flipped the switch—83% success followed. Parents, if your kid’s frozen or fleeing at the sight of fractions, it’s not laziness—it’s their brain’s survival mode. Time to steady the first plank.
Spotting the Shakes: Disregulation’s Telltale Signs
How do you know your kid’s bridge is quaking? Brenda’s got the rundown: anger, tears, avoidance, or a deer-in-headlights freeze. Her daughter “waited for answers,” silently stalled, while Kristyn’s bolted for the bathroom—classic fight, flight, or freeze. “They’re hyperfocused on the threat,” Brenda explains, with sweaty palms, racing hearts, even exhaustion signaling overload. Contrast that with a regulated kid: calm, curious, mistake-proof, their prefrontal cortex humming. Parents, watch for these cues—your child’s not “bad at math”; their brain’s just yelling “danger!”
Author Quote“
Fear stops higher-level thinking… The emotional brain bosses them, and learning’s the last thing they focus on.
”
Planking the Gaps: Regulation as the Foundation
Brenda’s fix isn’t a quick patch—it’s a sturdy base. “Teach emotional regulation first,” she urges, before the math fire erupts. She coached an aggressive boy back from the brink, building a visual tool list—deep pressure, water breaks, breathing—that turned him into a math ace. “It’s not one-size-fits-all,” she stresses; every kid’s bridge needs custom planks. Neuroplasticity loves this: practice rewires panic into poise. Parents, don’t wait for the meltdown—prep them with a plan, because a calm brain bridges gaps like a champ.
Key Takeaways:
1
Fear Blocks Math: ADHD kids’ emotional brains override logic—regulation flips the switch, per a study hitting 83% success.
2
Spot the Stress: Disregulation shows as panic, freeze, or flight—regulated kids are calm, curious, and ready to learn.
3
Parents Plank First: Teach tools early, model calm—your steady brain steadies theirs across the math bridge.
Grown-Ups on Deck: Mirror, Mirror, Regulate
Here’s the twist: your wobbles shake their bridge too. “Kids are little empaths,” Brenda warns, soaking up your stress via mirror neurons. Kristyn nods—her own dysregulation once tanked a math session with her daughter. Step one? Steady yourself. A sip of water, a deep breath, a walk—find your calm, then guide theirs. Parents, this is your prefrontal cortex setting the tone; model it, and they’ll mimic it. A regulated duo crosses that bridge stronger, together.
Author Quote“
A regulated kid’s open, calm, playful… Their curiosity’s unlocked, and they’re not afraid of mistakes.
”
Fear Falls, Confidence Rises
Math anxiety’s the villain here—splintering planks, stalling strides—but Brenda’s bridge-building banishes it. Teach regulation, spot the signs, tailor the tools, and stay steady yourself—your ADHD kid won’t just limp across; they’ll strut. Parents, don’t let “they’re just not math people” stick—brains change, and you’re the engineer. Step up, plank that bridge with grit and grace, or fear wins. Brenda’s proof: a sturdy crossing’s not a dream—it’s a plan. Your move.
