Math doesn't
bite.
The book that helps parents defuse math anxiety before it takes hold. Games, tips, and activities to play with math as a family without even realizing it.
The Foreword
Elie Tirman, 16, is a high school student with a passion for science and mathematics. After creating a program and awareness workshops to help parents combat math anxiety from an early age, "Math Doesn't Bite" is his first book.
Convinced that early intervention can limit math anxiety, he draws on recent research in cognitive science—including a CNRS study published in Child Development (2025) showing that simple family-based learning activities strengthen children's math skills—as well as his own field experience working with parents and children.
7 everyday actions, 7 ways to play with math
Everyday actions become fun entry points, requiring no equipment, no preparation, and no pressure.
Share
Share the pizza fairly.
Order
Sandcastles at the beach.
Count
To pack the vacation suitcase.
Compare
Colors, quantities, lengths...
Associate
By sizes, by pairs, by colors...
To measure
Sizes.
Rank
By sizes, by pairs, by colors...
200+ ways
to undertake these 7 family activities differently.
Key themes of the book
What parents and teachers think
“With Elie's tips, I play math with my little boy. We laugh, he loves it, and he learns without even noticing.”
“Thank you, Elie, you gave me plenty of ideas that I now put into practice, and I'm inventing new ones.”
“We see math everywhere now! Glasses are two circles, the window is a rectangle…”
“Math is all around us. To introduce little ones to it and help structure their thinking, Elie Tirman's book gives parents valuable ideas to spark young children's curiosity and make the most of everyday situations. Through constant stimulation, children become active learners and absorb fundamental mathematical landmarks.”
Ready to play with math as a family, without even noticing?
200 ways to play with math every day, from age 5.