How to Play the Math Bean Game for Kids

Gather up a large number of beans to work with. Any type of bean will do. If you are working with your own child, try using a bean that he actually likes to eat when cooked, such as a lima bean or kidney bean. Relating the bean to something your child likes can help make the game fun and successful.

Decide what number you are going to work on with your child. It can be any number, but make it relative to the child and her skills. For example, for a young child just starting to learn to count, you can start with four beans. An older child, who has more math skills, could start out with 20.

Have your player count out the number of beans you plan to use. Then, take that number of beans and hide them in your hands, behind your back.

Divded the beans between your hands while still keeping them behind your back. As an example, if your child has counted out nine beans, put five beans in one hand and four in the other, or any other combination that adds up to nine.

Take your hands out from behind your back, and show the child how many beans are in one hand only. The child then tries to figure out how many beans are in your other hand to total the sum that you started with.

Keep playing with the same number of beans by using different combinations to get the same number. This can help your child realize that there are many combinations to get to the same sum.