9 Fun and Smart Math Activities for Kids: Engaging Your Child’s Interest
Have you ever wanted to bring math into your child’s life, but not sure how? There are many ways to engage your child in math activities. In this post, I will write about 9 fun and smart activities that you can do with your children! These are perfect math activities for kids!
Playing with numbers
When your child is able to play with numbers, it encourages number recognition and understanding of order. It helps your child build his or her mental math strategies too!
Number Search
have your child play around the house and find as many numbers as they can. If they find a number, have them write it down. The goal is to get the most numbers found in 30 minutes!
Number Memory Matching
All you need for this activity are some flashcards with math-related items on each side (i.e., apple-four). You can either make these cards or buy pre-made ones at your local teacher store/bookstore. Have your child match two cards and cover up one of the matching pairs once she finds it. Once all pairs are matched, count how many times each value shows up (i.e., four apples; three triangles; five stars). The winner is the one who finds the most matches.
Number Search Race
Make cards that have numbers on them (i.e., – six horses). Hide these around various places in your house or backyard and let your child find as many number cards within a certain time limit. Once she finds all of them, tell her which card you hid last to see if she found it! If not, try again until she finds it! This game encourages problem-solving skills while having fun with math at the same time!
Number Plate Race
This game is similar to the Number Search Race, but instead of hiding cards around your house or backyard, you draw numbers on plates and hide them. Once all players find their plate, they can race to see who finishes first by adding up how many dots are on each side! The winner gets a small prize (i.e., candy). This game develops problem-solving skills while also being enjoyable!
Number Puzzle Race
Buy some math puzzles (i.e., multiplication puzzles) or make your own with paper plates and markers/paper/pencil crayons. Divide players into two teams and have them play rock-paper-scissors to determine who goes first. Once it’s decided, give each player on that team ten minutes to solve their puzzle. When time is up, switch places between teams so everyone has an equal chance at winning! If they solve it before time runs out, they get a point. If not, that’s okay – it just encourages them to work hard! This game helps children learn number recognition and order while having fun at the same time!
Number Bingo
Buy bingo cards or make your own with paper plates and markers/paper/pencil crayons. Write numbers on each section of the card (i.e., one apple; two triangles). Once you have all players’ bingo cards ready, play rock-paper-scissors to see who goes first. Then call out different numbers until someone gets five in a row by matching up what they have on their card with the called number(s) on theirs! The winner is the first person to complete his or her bingo card! This activity helps children develop their number recognition and order skills while having fun at the same time!
Adding Games
adding games are fun and engaging for kids to play with their parents or siblings. However, they can also be played alone if your child is older. These games help develop basic addition concepts (i.e., 2+2=4) while also encouraging problem-solving skills!
Practice counting by 2’s
Give your child ten counters and ask him or her to count by 2’s, starting with two. Ask them if they can get to 20 doing this. If so, give them an extra five counters and have them start over counting by 2’s from there. Keep going until they can’t do it!
Use simple addition equations to solve word problems
Start by writing down addition equations on paper plates (i.e., 2+3=5). Write the word problems next to them along with their answers (i.e., five horses; three triangles). Have your child solve each problem and match the answer with the correct equation to check his/her work!
Ask questions about number bonds
Number bonds are mathematical concepts that help children learn how numbers relate to one another. For this activity, play rock-paper-scissors to see who goes first. Then ask if your opponent can make a certain number using different factors (i.e., 3+1=4 OR 1+2=3 OR 5-2=7). If they get right, tell them what they earned (i.e., a point). If they get it wrong, you tell them with a smile on your face! You can play this game for as long as you want and make the questions more difficult when your child gets older.
These are just eight fun activities that will encourage learning while being enjoyable at the same time!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to teach math to children?
Many children struggle with basic arithmetic, so it’s important to take your lessons slowly and simplify as much as you can. If your child is struggling, try using manipulatives such as dice or beans to help them better understand the concept you’re trying to teach. Also, keep in mind that you don’t need dedicated “math time!” You can incorporate math into everyday activities like baking and cooking by asking your child which ingredients they should add next, how many steps it takes to count by twos, etc.
What are some ways to make math fun for kids?
If your child is bored during math time, they probably aren’t interested. Look around your house and see if you can find any elements of your daily life that can be turned into a game! We hope the activities in this article will provide some inspiration.
Conclusion
Math can be a challenging subject to teach, but the activities we’ve provided will help your child develop important skills while they have fun. Having the right materials and the right attitude is crucial when it comes to engaging children. Whether you’re teaching simple addition, multiplication, or fractions, we hope these activities will provide a little inspiration in your next math lesson!
