It’s no secret that Kiddo loves his mathematics and that our family loves games. One year he even included math problems on a Mother’s Day card for me. A friend of mine asked me about math games for kids so I thought I post about it here, too.
{Note: Games are affiliate links. I’ve chosen only games we own and love.}
Double Shutter. I mentioned this game before as a good toddler distraction, (Update: we’ve also used it for Kindergarten math practice) but Kiddo and I really love playing it. It’s an excellent way of learning how different combinations of numbers can be added to produce the same sum. It also teaches logical and strategic thinking. I appreciate that the rules can be easily altered for younger players.
MiQube. This is still a little challenging for Kiddo (Update: now at age 8 he is growing into it), but we use the game set very loosely and it builds spatial perception skills, important for math and geometry. It’s several games in one so there are different ways to play.
ThinkFun Rush Hour. While this game doesn’t use numbers per se, it is absolutely terrific for developing a sense of spatial relations and logical thinking. Kiddo LOVES it. For younger kids, there is a ThinkFun Rush Hour Jr. version and the same company makes a number of similar logic games if your child is not as mesmerized by vehicles as mine is. When friends ask me for game suggestion, this is my number one gift recommendation. I buy it for everyone’s birthday present.
Don’t overlook a simple pair of dice, a pencil and paper. It’s amazing the games your child can invent with just these materials. The benefits of inventing games can not be overstated. If you want to get fancy, Think Fun Math Dice are fun!
So there you have it, just a few of the math games we play around here. (Although, there are even more games I haven’t mentioned! Find them on our games gift guide.)
What are your favorite math games?
MaryAnne says
What's the difference between Rush Hour and Rush Hour Jr. Are the cards just easier with the Jr. version, or are the pieces different also?
Raising a Happy Child says
Great recommendations. We got Math Dice lately, and daughter loves it, except it's kind of too easy for her. I have to look up game variations for that. She likes to play Rush Hour on my iPod, but gets easily frustrated if she can't figure out how to solve it. Shapes Up is pretty cool too, and I love Magna Tiles for very many reasons. Best investment we ever made into a toy!
Loren says
My daughter got frustrated with Rush hour too. You need fairly good special reasoning to get started, if your special reasoning is really low I feel it is just too hard. If you have good spacial reasoning already it will be fun and make you a master.
Aly in va. says
We use the iPad app for rush hour all the time. A great way to get in some logic in the car or in waiting room 🙂