Smart Math Games: Fun Ways to Improve Math Skills

What Are Some Tips for Improving Math Skills?

A smart math game is one that improves your child's math skills while still being fun. One of the most effective ways to improve math skills is to have your child interact with math in a fun environment or a real-life setting. This can help increase your child's interest level in math and give your child the inspiration to care about math. Remember, as with all things, practice makes perfect; as a result, take advantage of every possible opportunity for your child to use math, whether it is at the store or when doing things around the house, such as redecorating.

Regardless of your child's age or skill level, the games listed below can be adapted to meet your child's needs. Use the games for a fun review over the summer or to challenge your child to reach the next level in math in an interesting and amusing way. Try incorporating math into games that your child is familiar with and already enjoys.

Smart Math Games

Memory Game

Begin by writing the answers to addition equations on the back of nine note cards. Arrange them in three rows and columns faced upside down on the table. Then, give your child the unsolved equations. For each turn, you and your child will solve an equation and then flip over a note card to match the answer. This way, the math concept is only one part of the game because memory is also required.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Using this classic game as a template, incorporate your child's current math concept to transform it into a smart math game. Create a blank tic-tac-toe board. In each square, write an equation or math problem. When playing the game, you and your child will have to solve the problem before you can write an X or an O in the box. For instance, if you want to review addition, you would write an equation like 45 + 3 in the first box.

Real-World Application

Emphasize the importance of math by pointing out how math is used in daily life. For instance, on a vacation, have your child measure the distance from your house to your destination. Then, look at the distance on a map or on a globe. Not only is this a fun way for your child to understand distance and practice measuring, but it can also help him or her become geographically aware.