At Home Math Activities

Below is a list of ideas for simple math games/activities that kids can play for a few minutes each day:

Purchasable Games:

• Play one of the dozen games in these Tiny Polka Dot cards. There are games for multiple levels here – it’s a great thing for older and younger siblings to play together.
• Play Sumology. This is like scrabble but for math equations. It’s another great one for multi age play – K-2 can focus on addition/subtraction, 3rd/4th can build in multiplication/division and even older kids can play with orders of operation.
• Play Math Match. This is a 12-sided dice + card game and is also fantastic for multi age play. K-2 can play with a single die and addition/subtraction, but older siblings can play with 2 dice and more complex operations.
• Play Monopoly! Leave a game out and come back to it each night for a few mins. The practice of creating monetary sums and making change is a fun and real application of the skills they’re building in K-2.

Ad Hoc Games:

• Play “Guess my number” (in the car or at the table). For example, you say “I’m thinking of two numbers that add up to 15,” and your kid has to figure out the numbers. You can change up operations and size of numbers, and you can give them a chance to quiz you too.
• Give them random math problems during dinner or before dessert. What’s 12 – 9? What’s 52 + 37? What’s half of 14?
• Have them write you a word problem, but make them figure out the answer first so that they can “check your work” :).