Who says math can’t be fun? Motivating your child to learn and love this tricky subject can be as easy as playing games. All it takes is a dash of creativity, fun, and imagination. You can utilize could be practically anything to create math learning games that illustrate the real life applications of math, and so much more! Read on as we walk through some fun math activities to keep your kids engaged in learning while helping them stay on top of their numbers game. 

“Heavier or Lighter?” Guessing Game

Guessing games are the best! It’s why game shows on TV make money from their robust ad revenue, after all. Remember The Price is Right? Take the guessing game aspect of that show and, instead of guessing prices, gather household items on the table and have your child guess the weights of these items. You can use any item handy that will fit a kitchen scale. First, have children formulate guesses based on observation and jot down their guesses on one side of a sheet of paper. Next, have children weigh each item on the kitchen scales and record the answers. Lastly, have children determine if the actual weight is heavier or lighter than their initial guesses. This exercise introduces your child to the basic terms and concepts of weight measurement, which will be useful as they progress in school. 

Paper Plate Clock

Arts and crafts anyone? Turning math into a quick and fun project is a sure-fire way to get children involved in learning using this hands-on approach. Help your children get creative and become a master of telling time by letting them make and design their own clocks. You only need the following supplies for this project: a paper plate, scissors, split-pin, colored paper, markers and other coloring materials. Begin by making a hole at the middle of the paper plate. You can even teach children how to find the midpoint of the plate by measuring and finding the intersection of the diameters. Next, cut out the clock hands and secure them in place with the split-pin at the center. Have your child divide the clock into 12 equal parts and write the numbers in each corresponding spot. Once the numbers are all set, give children the freedom to design their own clocks using markers and other coloring materials. 

Pizza Fractions Game

Another fun math activity to help your child  learn the concept of fractions is by using none other than our favorite snack — PIZZA! Understanding fractions can be difficult without the use of a visual aid. You don’t need a real pizza to do this activity at home or in school (save your pizza for a fun treat afterwards!) Instead, you can either use some construction paper or an old pizza carton to start off. The key is to create a visual representation of different fractions to help them understand how one fraction could be equal to the other and bigger or smaller than the other. You can even have them decorate the toppings based on the fraction and, voila! They’ll probably end up talking about fractions while you’re eating your pizza and even afterwards… which means you did a great job!

Hopscotch Calculator

Wanna take your kids outside for some fun under the sun? Try playing a fun game of hopscotch to get them moving while also solving math problems. The aim here is to make math problems more interactive rather than being a passive activity that can drain your child’s attention in class. Grab  a piece of chalk and draw a hopscotch board on the pavement that include numbers and math symbols. Start the game by hopping on different combinations of numbers to make an equation. Next, step aside and let your child hop in to give the answer. This game can become even more fun when played at school with a group of kids. 

Lengthy Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunt games are so much fun when done with other kids in class! It’s like the game “Bring Me!, but with a twist of math. You can help kids learn how to take measurements with this game. It can be used as an individual or group game. Give students a number for a certain length and have them go around the classroom with  a measuring device like a ruler or measuring tape. Ask them to find any items in the room that measure the exact length you gave. It may be easier to prepare some items before the game starts and spread them around the room in visible areas.

Find these tips helpful? We’re glad to help you with your parenting journey. At Wee Care Preschools, we focus on helping your child learn, develop, explore, and grow! Wee Care was designed to provide a safe, loving environment where our children  learn basic academic skills, and most importantly, they are given ample opportunity to play and enjoy childhood. Visit weecarepreschools.com or contact us for more details about our amazing childhood learning programs.