Why Kids Struggle with Word Problems (And How to Help)

Word problems are often the most dreaded part of math homework. Your child might breeze through arithmetic worksheets but freeze when faced with "If Sarah has 12 apples and gives away 5..."

Understanding why word problems are challenging is the first step to helping your child overcome them.

Why Word Problems Are Uniquely Challenging

1. They Require Multiple Skills at Once

Word problems aren't just about math—they're a complex blend of:

• Reading comprehension: Understanding what the problem is saying
• Information filtering: Identifying what's relevant and what's not
• Translation: Converting words into mathematical operations
• Computation: Actually solving the math
• Verification: Checking if the answer makes sense

When any of these skills is weak, the whole process breaks down.

2. The "Keyword" Trap

Many children are taught to look for keywords like "total" (add) or "left" (subtract). While this can help initially, it often backfires:

• "How many more does John have than Mary?" uses "more" but requires subtraction
• "Sarah gave away some toys and has 5 left" might need addition to find the original amount
• Real-world problems rarely follow keyword patterns

3. Working Memory Overload

Word problems require holding multiple pieces of information in mind simultaneously:

• The scenario
• The numbers involved
• What's being asked
• The steps needed to solve

For children with limited working memory, this juggling act is exhausting.

Strategies That Actually Help

Break Down the Problem

Teach your child a systematic approach:

1. Read it twice: First for the story, second for the math
2. Identify the question: What exactly are we trying to find?
3. Find the facts: What numbers and information are given?
4. Choose the operation: What math do we need to do?
5. Solve and check: Does the answer make sense?

Visualize the Problem

Drawing pictures or diagrams transforms abstract problems into concrete ones:

• Use circles to represent groups
• Draw number lines for comparison problems
• Sketch the scenario described

Visual learners especially benefit from this approach.

Remove the Numbers First

Try this exercise: Read a word problem without looking at the numbers. Can your child explain what type of problem it is? This builds conceptual understanding separate from computation.

Practice with Real-Life Scenarios

Create word problems from daily life:

• "We have 8 cookies and 3 people. How many does each person get?"
• "The movie starts at 7:00 and it's 6:30 now. How much time do we have?"
• "You have $10 and want to buy a $7 toy. How much change will you get?"

Start with Simpler Numbers

When learning a new problem type, use easy numbers (like 2, 5, 10) so your child can focus on the process, not the computation.

Common Word Problem Types to Practice

Comparison Problems

"Tom has 8 stickers. Maria has 5 more than Tom. How many does Maria have?"

Part-Whole Problems

"There are 15 animals at the farm. 9 are cows. How many are not cows?"

Change Problems

"Ben had some marbles. He found 6 more and now has 14. How many did he start with?"

Equal Groups

"4 friends share 20 candies equally. How many does each friend get?"

Building Confidence Over Time

The key to word problem success is consistent, low-pressure practice. Celebrate the process—identifying the question, choosing the right operation—not just the final answer.

With patience and the right strategies, your child can transform from word problem avoider to confident problem solver.