Are you keen to help your child sharpen their maths skills? Look no further than the wonderful world of online maths games!
When I was at school, I loved maths. My brain loved the fact that there was always a right answer, even if I couldn’t work out how to get to it, and how if you got a wrong answer you could work back through your calculations to see where you went wrong. It just made sense to me, and to this day I love brain challenges that involve logic and patterns.
Having grown up during an age when the most digitally advanced handheld game available was a Nintendo Donkey Kong (and no, I didn’t own one, much to my childhood self’s disdain), I marvel at the vast array of options my nieces and nephews have these days. Although some online games and apps are made for older children, there are heaps that are suitable for primary school-aged youngsters too, and quite a few of them are actually educational as well as being entertaining to play.
These digital diversions offer a brilliant way to make learning fun and engaging for primary school-aged children. And one subject they can really bring to life is maths. But how can these online maths games help to transform numeracy from being a dreaded subject into an exciting adventure?
The Power of Play in Learning Maths
It’s no secret that children learn best when they’re having fun. Online maths games harness this principle, turning abstract concepts into colourful, interactive challenges. These games can help children:
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Improve mental arithmetic
- Boost confidence in their mathematical abilities
- Learn to apply maths concepts in real-world scenarios
Remember when we all went crazy for games like Cafe World and Farming World several years ago? As well as being highly addictive and a lot of fun to play, in moderation games like this are a great way to subtly convey mathematical concepts such as budgeting, area and percentages, amongst others. Even the ultimate mobile phone game Candy Crush is an online maths game in disguise as it provides the opportunity for players to hone their pairs matching, problem-solving and advanced thinking skills. Every day is a school day!
Online Maths Games for Primary School Children
In my local Facebook group there was a recent discussion between parents – and possibly other non-parents like me who were being curious lurkers – about online resources to help primary school kids with maths. Several different online maths game sites and apps were suggested in the thread, and being a nosy parker and also a maths and games fan I of course couldn’t help checking some of them out for myself.
I won’t admit quite how long I spent playing some of these games, all in the interest of research, of course, but let’s just say my investigations were VERY thorough.
Some online maths games are much more educational than others, and some I personally wouldn’t want a young child playing due to unsuitability (for example, some money games use US/US-looking currency, which is very confusing for children who are trying to get to grips with British money) so supervision is certainly required as to which games are being played.
There are a wide range of maths-related games available on different websites and via apps, with some that have a very obvious numeracy link and others that are far more subtle, building soft skills such as problem-solving rather than teaching a specific mathematical function. And there are games for a wide variety of ages, from early years right up until Year 6 and beyond – if my own experience is anything to go by, they are entirely suitable for adults, too!
I wanted to share a few of my favourites here – they’re not in any particular order but these are a handful that particularly stood out whilst I was doing my ‘research’:
1. Harbor Operator
Harbor Operator is a port management game where players guide ships into and out of various ports. The game involves drawing lines to direct ships to colour-coded docks, whilst managing traffic and avoiding collisions. It offers multiple port locations and automatically saves the best score for each port, providing an engaging way to practice spatial reasoning and strategic planning. The gameplay has three speed options, so it can get very hazardous as more and more ships appear. I can imagine this fast becoming a family favourite as it’s really very addictive…apparently.
2. Cashier Simulator
In Cashier Simulator, players operate a virtual cash register at a grocery store. The game progresses through 160 stages, each increasing in complexity. Players ring up items, calculate totals, collect payments and give change. As players advance, they unlock additional items and face challenges like scanning items in quantities greater than one, helping to develop quick mental arithmetic skills. My only gripe with this game is that when someone pays with a debit card you (as the cashier) have to enter their PIN, which of course is something that should never happen in real life, so it could cause confusion and result in a misunderstanding about card security amongst any children playing this game.
3. Coin Maze
Coin Maze is a 25-stage maze game inspired by the classic Pac-Man. Players navigate through each level, collecting coins while avoiding red stove ranges. The game features interactive elements like green switches that alter block positions, directional arrows for movement, pause boxes for changing directions and warp boxes for quick location changes. To progress, players must collect all coins in a stage to unlock the next level. The game challenges players’ strategic thinking, timing and spatial awareness as they manoeuvre through increasingly complex mazes.
4. Treze Coins
Perfect for younger children, Treze Coins is a simple yet engaging addition game that helps children familiarise themselves with money concepts. Players insert coins of various denominations into a gum ball machine to purchase gum balls. The game starts off very easy with just a single coin (1p/1c) but gradually increases in complexity, challenging players to count exact change and even exchange coins for a different denomination. To win, players need to collect eight gum balls. As the difficulty ramps up, the game becomes more addictive, testing players’ mental maths skills and quick thinking abilities. Treze Coins is an excellent tool for practising addition and developing monetary awareness in a fun, interactive environment.
Making the Most of Online Maths Games
While these games are fantastic tools for learning, it’s important to remember that online maths games work best as part of a balanced approach to numeracy education. Here are some tips to maximise the benefits:
- Set reasonable time limits: Ensure gaming doesn’t overshadow other important activities. Even as an adult I got very carried away playing these games as they’re so enjoyable and addictive, so keep this in mind for children, too!
- Play together: Engage with your child as they play, discussing strategies and concepts. After a game has ended, discuss what went well and how they could do even better next time.
- Reinforce learning: Connect game concepts to real-life situations to help children apply their new skills. For example, with Treze Coins you could talk about different ways of making up amounts of money. There is no time limit on this game so it could even be analysed during game play.
- Track progress: Many online maths games offer progress reports. Use these to identify areas where your child might need extra support.
- Mix it up: Encourage your child to try different games to keep things fresh and exciting – but do make sure you’ve vetted them first to ensure your child is playing online maths games that are suitable for their age and ability level.
The Future of Maths Education
As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative and engaging online maths games for children to learn with. Virtual reality experiences, AI-powered personalised learning and games that adapt in real-time to a child’s progress are just a few exciting possibilities on the horizon.
Online maths games offer a brilliant way to support your child’s numeracy skills development. By making learning fun and interactive, these games can help transform maths from what might feel like a chore or something seemingly pointless into a cherished, valued activity. Whether your little one is just starting to count or tackling more complex problems, there’s an online maths game out there to suit their needs and interests.
Of course, every child learns differently, so don’t be afraid to experiment with various online maths games to find what works best for your young mathematician. With the right approach, you might just find that maths becomes your child’s favourite subject!
Do you think you will give these online maths games a go with your child/ren? You might be surprised at how quickly their maths skills – and enthusiasm for numeracy – begin to multiply. And if you’re anything like me you might end up even more surprised at how much you enjoy playing these online maths games yourself!
Anyone for a game of Harbor Operator??