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The Best Kid Games Using Math

In order to learn math, kids do not always need to spend hours solving equations and reading textbooks. There are a lot of everyday games that help kids practice basic math skills in an entertaining way. Games can focus on basic addition and subtraction skills or more complex equation-solving skills. No matter the focus, kids will have fun without realizing they're practicing essential skills.

Dice Games
- Yahtzee, by Milton Bradley, is a dice game that requires children to use addition, subtraction and multiplication skills to make at least one of 13 scoring combinations. Kids must use the concept of chance and probability to determine which box to check off after each roll. Farkle is a similar dice game where children must use the game's scoring system to accumulate the most points. A pair of dice can also be used to play a simple addition game where children take turns rolling the dice and try to be the first to add up to 100 without going over.
Money Games
- There are a wealth of board games that help children learn basic money management and budgeting skills. Monopoly, by Hasbro, provides kids with a base amount of money and provides them with the opportunity to use that money to purchase property and collect rent as the game progresses. Monopoly Junior is a version of the game for younger children. Also by Hasbro, The Game of Life asks kids to choose a career and a salary and to budget their money as they conduct life transactions, such as buying a car, buying a house, getting married and having children.
Block Games
- Block games help children understand patterns and concepts of space and geometry. Blokus, by Mattel, is a game that requires players to place all of their pieces on the board with the pieces only touching at the corners. Qwirkle is another block game where players compete to create columns and rows of blocks with similar colors and patterns. Set Cubed, similarly, requires players to make sets of three where each block contains a different number, color and pattern.
Other Games
- Sequence, by Jax, is a game that requires players to create a sequence of colored poker chips on the game board by playing cards from their hand. Since players can block one another, this game requires strategy and backup plans. Sequence Numbers is a version of the game that uses numbers instead of playing cards. Another game, Cranium, is a team board game that requires teams to act, sing, draw, define words and answer data/logic questions to advance on the board. While it works on other creative skills, the data/logic questions require children to solve equations and use basic math skills.

Kids Games