Helping kids learn the Math skills they need for life can sometimes be hard. The last thing many children want to do when they get out of school is to learn at home. Parents can get a helping hand from number games and toys that are fun to play and that will engage their kids. Learning through play can be a great way of reinforcing classroom learning.
Why play Math games with kids?
Parents who encourage their kids to play games won’t just teach them how to have fun. Playing games helps them develop many life skills and can help them bond with their friends and family. Adding an educational aspect to games play can also help with their development and learning. Playing math games with children can, for example, help them develop:
- General number skills
- Calculation abilities (i.e. addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)
- An understanding of how numbers work
Asking a child to recite their multiplication tables may not seem much fun for them. But, getting them to use the same skills with a game or a toy may simply make this kind of learning something they actively want to do. Reinforcing the numeracy work they do at school by playing games can also be useful.
It also teaches them life skills for later in life.
Choosing Math, number and counting games
There are many different games to choose from in this sector. Those pitched at young children may well be card or puzzle-based. Flashcards, basic number puzzles, sudoku and counting games may be good starting points for pre-schoolers and younger age school children. These can then rise in complexity to include other elements such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Dominoes are also a fun way of boosting number recognition. As children get older they may also enjoy variations on this game such as Tri-onimos which challenge them to think about number matching with an added dimension. Games can also be adapted as children grew older – a simple game of snap can grow with them. They can play a basic version with standard playing cards and can then progress on to games that involve sums and calculations.
Strategy number games may also be worth considering. Rummikub, for example, works on the principles of Gin Rummy and players have to build the best hands with sets of number tiles. Older children may also enjoy Equate, a Scrabble type of number game where the aim is to lay tiles to make equations and sums.
Looking at online Math games
Parents don’t have to buy board, puzzle and card games to see the benefits of having their children play with numbers. There are plenty of online games that they can also use that may be helpful and fun to play. Many of these games can be accessed and played at no cost. There are lots of free apps they can use on tablets/phones or you could ask your child’s school what they suggest as they often have access to school programmes the children can also log into outside school.
When considering buying math games or toys you may want to shop around to see what deals are on offer. Online price comparison sites are often useful at this stage. The lowest costs may well be in online stores so it may be worth looking at options here before visiting stores. Finally, any parents looking to boost their child’s literacy skills may also want to consider introducing them to word games and toys.
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