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Math Games for Gifted Children

Gifted children thrive on the reasoning and critical thinking skills required by math. Many math games are available for gifted students that give the students an outlet for their logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. These games sometimes have more of an emphasis on higher-level thinking skills and less emphasis on basic computation.

Krypto
- This inexpensive card game helps students develop number sense, mental math skills and computational abilities. Deal each student five cards (cards are numbered from one to 15), with a sixth card as a target. Students then need to use all five cards with the four basic mathematical operations to reach the target number. Krypto can be played by any size group, from individual to the whole class. Primary Krypto is recommended for ages 5 and up; "regular" Krypto is recommended for ages 8 and older.
SET
- SET hones deduction and recognition skills. The game consists of cards, each with one of three symbols in varying numbers, colors and levels of shading. Twelve cards are placed face-up and all players scan them quickly to find sets of three linked by combinations of similarities and/or differences. Everyone plays simultaneously, adding a touch of competition to play. Recommended for ages 6 and older.
24/7 The Game
- Looking for a mathematical strategy game? 24/7 The Game may be just the game for your gifted child. The game involves laying numbered tiles on a game board to create seven-by-seven grids. Players earn extra points for tiles that create sets, runs or sums of 24 or 7 (think Scrabble for math). Tiles can be placed in all four directions, leading to a different situation each time the game is played. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Maya Madness
- If you'd like a fun way to introduce the concepts of negative numbers and the power of zero, try Maya Madness. Each player uses a timeline to measure progress from -5 to 5. The game's cards and tokens feature Mayan and Arabic numerical symbols, so kids gain exposure to other cultures. Children add and subtract their cards to reach a target number. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Hisss
- For the younger gifted child, Hisss is a good choice for introducing visual logic and color identification. Players use their cards--each featuring a different color and part of a snake--to create "sensible" snakes (with the correct body parts and a single color). Children practice counting skills as well as they add up scores at the end of the game. Recommended for children 3 and older.

Kids Games