Kids revise Math concepts with games!

Hours of Math enrichment can be played out through the simple use of Math games. Kids of 7-12 years love games and the mention of ‘Games’ for Mathematics class can generate a lot of excitement. Throw in a bit of small rewards, your children or students can willingly revise Math with you for hours! Just as young children have tremendous amounts of energy and motivation for competitive games such as sports or video game, you can see the same spirit in them as they try their best to beat you to a round of Math game.

Most of the Math printables available online are topically focused, and can be easily played in any class setting, as long as everyone has a pencil or pen. They may be used by class teachers, private tutors, or even parents. Some of the better games have variations in difficulty levels that allow it to be played not only between students themselves, but even between students and an educator.

The games can be especially beneficial if students are able to play it amongst themselves. After introducing a game of multiplication in lesson, the prospect of a challenge amongst friends will motivate students to brush up on the relevant Mathematical skills. They can then hold little intellectual battles (constructive ones of course) after school or even in between lessons.

In one instance, after playing a multiplication game with a class, the children were so excited that they pestered me relentlessly for copies of the game (on photocopied sheets) so that they could play amongst themselves. I was even more surprised when some students who were previously not interested in Math at all started learning their Times Table in order to challenge and beat their friends to the game.

Making Pen and Paper Math games available to students is an excellent way of allowing students to revise or learn at their own rate. Moreover, it comes only at the sacrifice of time which students would otherwise use to play Tic-Tac-Toe or Connect 4. It would be more advantageous if elements of Math can be included in their play time, without making it too obvious that they are actually studying. This gives them the chance to revise their basic Math skills and everyone stands to gain. Not only are students happy, but their teachers and parents as well. Although it may take some effort initially to explain the rules and specifics of the Math games to students, the reward that follows is well worth it. Most importantly however, is that this simple use of games can inspire learning easily.