Most children love interactive games so they’re a brilliant way to practise maths at home. Children can choose games that appeal to their interests and take control of their own learning by selecting the level of challenge that’s right for them. All the games here are suitable for playing on a PC, and most work on Macs and Ipads too. Before children play remind them about internet safety, particularly the importance of never giving away personal information online. We recommend reading Kaspersky’s Top 7 Online Gaming Dangers & Risks for Kids and Teens.
Here’s a selection of our favourite maths games websites.
Topmarks divide games into age categories: 3-5, 5-7, 7-11, and 11-14 years. Categories cover all relevant areas of the National Curriculum.
Mental Maths Train for 5-7 year olds is one of our favourites. It’s a bright, attractive game that enables children to choose an operation (adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing) and a level of challenge. A sum appears on the screen. When children click on the truck with the correct answer the train whistles and whooshes away.
2. ICT Games
Each game is aimed at both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 so children select the number range and operation to match their ability. Learning objectives, which are organized by year group, appear alongside each game.
We love Duck Shoot. It’s a fairground game in which children count in multiples ranging from 2 to 12 depending upon their preference. When they click on the correct duck there’s a ‘ting’ and when it’s the wrong duck the cowboy running the game yells ‘youch!’
3. Maths Frame
These games are supposed to be aimed at Key Stage 2 but when you click on some of them you find they’re suitable for Key Stage 1 too.
Key Stage 2 Maths Invaders is great fun. Children choose an operation, say fractions, and they select the type of fractions they want to work with (halves, quarters etc). Levels range from ‘very easy’ to ‘very hard’ so children can self-differentiate. A question appears in the starry sky and children shoot the rocket displaying the correct answer.
4. Oxford Owl
Oxford Owl games are for children aged 3-5, 5-7 and 7-9 years old. There are printable worksheets to reinforce the skills practised in the games. Many of the games follow exactly the same format so there is the danger of boredom. On the plus side this means that they’re easy to understand and so even very young children can play independently. There’s also an audio button so the instructions can be read aloud to young children.
Match the Shape is a lovely game for 3-5 year olds in which children drag and drop shapes onto real-life scenes. In a park children drag a triangle onto a kite, an oval onto a balloon, a square onto a window and a rectangle onto a waste bin etc.
5. BBC Bitesize
This is more of an interactive learning experience than a set of maths games. Children click on a skill they would like to learn eg. ‘How to multiply and divide by 0, 1, 10 and 100’ which takes them to a learning page. There they find a video teaching them the skill beneath which are step-by-step written instructions. Each written instruction is accompanied by an interactive activity so children can practise what they have learnt at each stage.
If children are having difficulty mastering a particular mathematical concept at school then this is a particularly useful website to explore.
6. SplashMath
This is a US website with games for children in primary and secondary school. There are logic games, puzzle games and racing games for practicing skills across the mathematics curriculum. Games are easy to understand so they can be played by young children independently.
The Ruler Game is a fun way to teach measuring skills. There’s a child’s voice narrating the instructions and gentle sound effects bring the game to life.
7. Crickweb
Here you’ll find seventy-four maths games for children from 4-11 years old covering the topics in the Early Years Foundation Stage and National Curriculum. Most of the games use Adobe Flash Player which can be downloaded for a fee. Games are easy to understand with audio instructions to foster young children’s independence.
We like Sweet Shop – a money game in which children choose items to buy and then drag and drop the correct coins to pay for them.
Hamilton Trust Quick Maths games cover Years 3 – 6 and they all require Adobe Flash Player to work. The games are designed to accompany the Hamilton Trust’s maths plans for teachers but they’re free and can also be used at home. They are a fast-paced, exciting way to reinforce children’s maths skills.
One of our favourites is Jigsaw Subtraction Facts for 14 and 15 in which children piece together puzzle pieces to make the target numbers 14 and 15.
9. Nrich
Nrich is a Cambridge University initiative which aims to develop both children’s mathematical thinking and their problem-solving skills. These games or ‘interactives’ are aimed at primary aged children and they really do challenge children’s thinking because even the instructions can be difficult to understand, retain and follow.
We recommend trying activities yourself before suggesting them to your children in order to avoid frustration.
10. Math Playground
This is a US website with innovative games suitable across the primary age range. They have a ‘game spotlight’ which encourages children to try a game that’s new to them each time they visit. Children can play games with a friend or by themselves against the computer. Beneath each game ‘learning connections’ or objectives are listed. These include a breakdown of both mathematical and thinking skills.
The Grand Prix Multiplication game will appeal to all vehicle lovers. Children choose a car colour to race. When a sum pops up if they answer it correctly their car zooms ahead!
Does your child need extra help with maths?
TutorMyKids offers both short-term and long-term mathematics tuition for children from primary age onwards. Whether your child is struggling with a particular area of maths or needs to master a greater range of skills we are here to support them.
We aim to foster a can-do attitude which in turn will raise your child’s achievement. Get in touch today!