Easy and fun math game to take the stress out of learning.

This is a easy math game that even my teen likes, it is inexpensive and fun.

Aim and name of the game

Today, I am going to share a game I play with my son to help him when he is having a hard time learning a new math strategy. We named it 'Random Selection' because of the way the game is played.

All you will need is...

• A deck of cards (without the face cards.)
• A whiteboard
• Whiteboard marker
• and a duster.

GAME 1

You can use this game to help familiarise your child with addition and multiplication up to the 10 (times tables).

How to play:

We write three numbers into 3 columns from 0 to 10.

We each take turns, one player at a time.
Player one pulls a row of 3 cards and places each card under one of the numbers we have  written on the board.

He then begins adding or multiplying the numbers, if he gets the answer correct, he takes the card as a point, for every wrong answer, that card goes to the bottom of the deck.

It is now player 2's turn. We continue playing until there are no more cards left. Whoever gets the most cards (correct answers) wins!

Mr 14 enjoys playing this game because it is quick and the rules are simple. I like this game because it helps build his knowledge and processing speed.

GAME 2

If I want to make it harder or  if we are doing subtraction. We will stop writing the numbers and use the columns as a place value board instead.

How to play:

Player 1 will place a card in 2 or 3 or the columns, depending on if we are doing 2 digit or 3 digit addition or subtraction.

Then, he will place a new row  of the same amount of cards underneath the top row of cards.  He then works out the answer for his set of cards.

When he gets the answer correct, he takes the bottom cards as a point, for every wrong answer, the cards go to the bottom of the deck. It is now player 2's turn.

We continue playing until there are no more cards left.

IF IT'S A LITTLE HARD
I give Mr 14 the white board (with the cards still on it) and a marker to work out his answers.

This is my go to game if I find that Mr 14 is having a hard time remembering these math concepts or I find him getting frustrated. I grab the deck of cards and take the pressure off him. I love this simple game because Mr 14 is having fun "beating mum" (wink, wink) and it is so easy to play.

For my younger children that were still learning number recognition we played card games too.

These games included:

• Snap
• Go fish

• Uno
• Last card

We still play these as a family today, but more for fun these days.

Over to you boss mum's.

Did you find this post helpful?

Do you have some games you play with your children that help them learn? I would love to hear about them in the comments below.

Your friend