Kids’ Math Games that Teach Counting

 

Photo Courtesy: Natural Math

Some kids take to math as fish do to water; others hate, fear and loathe it. Actually, teaching beginning math skills to a 3 year old is as easy as 1+1=2, if you go about it the right way. And no, getting him to push paper is NOT the right way. So, what’s a parent to do? Try some of these kids’ math games that teach your child how to count –and put the fun back into learning!

1. Neighborhood Number Crunch
Your neighborhood is packed with numbers – all you need to do is get your child to pay attention. Take him for a stroll around the block and watch out for numbers painted on street signs, mailboxes, doorways and curbs. As soon as you spot a number, call it out. See who can spot the most numbers. Want to make this kids’ math game a tad more challenging? Have your child count up to the number he spots.  For added variety, count trees, cars, dogs or even people dressed in red.

2. Cookie Bake ‘n’ Learn
Kids love cookies! But apart from being good to eat, cookies can also help your child learn counting. For a simple math lesson, have him count the number of cookies in a freshly baked batch. For more advanced learners, cookies can be the perfect fractions lesson as he cuts each into thirds, fourths, eighths or halves. Young children are visual learners and the act of actually cutting a cookie into fractions and adding or subtracting them can help them understand the lesson better than any worksheet could. This yummy kids’ math game teaches some unforgettable lessons!

3. Play date fun
The next time your toddler’s chums come over, have them play some classic games that also incorporate counting skills. For a game of hide-and-seek, ask your child to be “It.” As his friends hide, encourage him to count to 10 or 20 or even 50 if possible. For an older child, a hopscotch course in the yard is a great kids’ math game that hones his counting as well as large motor skills. If the kids are in the mood for something quieter, get them to play the classic board game Chutes and Ladders that has them counting their way up ladders and down chutes as the die rolls.

4. 20 Questions Daily Math
Make math a part of your child’s everyday routine. Challenge him with math questions related to the things he does in his daily life. For instance,
•    At a red light, how many black cars can he spot?
•    At the dentist’s, how many people will be left in the waiting room if five are called in?
•    If you ate only 1/3of your dinner, how much would you have left over?
•    How many Mars bars would you be able to buy if you had $5?

These kids’ math games are sure to challenge and intrigue your child. Just try to make them as creative and fun as possible!

Why Online Math Games Work So Well - Learning with Math Games for Kids

At home or in the classroom, online math games make a big difference to the way kids learn mathematics. Math whizzes and struggling learners alike are only too eager to get their turn at the computer, and readily spend hours answering questions on multiplication, fractions, algebra and more. Whether you’ve seen this phenomenon yourself or you’re still not convinced about the effectiveness of using math games for kids, you’re probably wondering how these games can make such a difference when teaching mathematics. Here are some of the main reasons math games for kids are so effective.

Motivation – When in the classroom, even the best of teachers cannot hold a child’s attention for much longer than an hour. Fun math games for kids can keep children playing and working on their math for hours at a stretch. This is because games use rewards like points, levels and badges to keep their players motivated and to encourage them to work harder and aim for higher goals. This type of positive reinforcement is enough to keep children going even when they make mistakes or encounter difficulties along the way.

Constant practice – Math games for kids are designed to repeat the same type of math questions until they sense that the player is able to answer them correctly. This way, kids keep practicing the same mathematical concepts and procedures until they are able to complete them with ease. This type of repetitive practice plays a key role in mastering math facts and procedures.

Immediate feedback – Immediate constructive feedback is another key aspect of math games for kids that contributes to their effectiveness in teaching math. When feedback is provided immediately, it serves as positive reinforcement for kids doing well and a corrective element for kids who need to alter their approach.

Relevance – For many kids, working with numbers does not hold much meaning for them. Students often wonder how math is important in the real world when they are never expected to solve numerical equations in their daily lives. Math games for kids highlight the relevance of mathematics by creating meaningful situations for the application of math skills. Virtual situations like buying groceries, measuring ingredients or running a business provides a context and relevance for the math problems.

Customization – Math games for kids provide a customized experience for every player. The complexity of the math problems is adjusted according to the skill and abilities of the player. This creates a personalized learning experience that keeps quick learners from getting bored and slow learners from giving up.

Engagement – Just like any other online game, kids’ math games are designed to engage the player and keep them coming back for more. Kids get engrossed with their progress and performance in the game and they are eager to learn the skills necessary to succeed in the game, whether those skills are game-related or math-related. 

Positive attitude – One of the biggest challenges a math teacher faces is to get the students to like the subject. Math games for kids achieve this effortlessly by removing the fear of failure and building self concept through the positive reinforcement and reward system in the game. This creates a positive attitude towards math that is essential in performing well.