Number games for Children | Mum In The Madhouse

Number games for Children

Both my boys love numbers and math.  We have been working with Maxi and the school to show his workings out, as he has always said that he just sees the answers to math questions in his head.  As he gets older points are often given for using the correct method and for showing the workings in exams.

number games

One of the ways we do this is by playing games.  I recently picked up a great little bingo set at the charity shop, which both the boys love top play.  They use it for making up their own number games.  They add the numbers, add up the lines when they score to work out who is the winner and just generally have fun with the numbers and the counters.  When I was growing up I loved bingo too, I used to tag along with my cousins when they visited and go to the arcades to play bingo.

There are lots of other number games you can play with children including:

    • Domino’s – great for number recognition, counting and strategy
    • Cards – you can play lots of card games with children, from basic snap, which is great for number recognition to something more difficult such as two’s and eights.  Cards are so portable and are great to have in your handbag.
    • Dice – a pair of dice is great to carry in your bag.  You can use them for very basic sums by getting your child to throw the dice and add, subtract, divide or times the two numbers.
    • Monoploly is great for introducing children to the concept of money and they often do not realise   they are using maths skills whilst playing.
    • Battleships is a fantastic game for introducing children to co-ordinates.  Perfect for playing before they have to use graphs.
    • Skittles or ten pin bowling.  You can make your own skittles from bottles and give them numbers.  This can help number recognition and addition skills for scoring.

What are your favorite games to play that reinforce maths skills?