MAKE MATH FUN! For children struggling in math, nothing is more frustrating and boring than a stack of multiplication flashcards or division quiz sheets. Fortunately, new math games have pepped up concept tutorials from fractions to functions. Keep these considerations in mind when purchasing educational games for your child. DO consider your child’s interests. If your child doesn’t gravitate to the computer in his free time, an online game probably won’t hold his interest for long. Instead, choose games that include his favorite pastimes. For example, if he’s interested in animals, look for a jungle-themed board game that incorporates math lessons. DON’T force it. Encourage your child to play her new math game, but don’t demand participation. When a game becomes a chore, it’s no fun for anyone. DO consider a game that will grow with your child so he can enjoy the game for years to come. DON’T get too complicated. If your child has to sort three stacks of cards, assemble a maze and search the house for pens and pads of paper before he starts, he’ll be turned off from the beginning. Avoid games with too many intricate parts or complicated rules, especially for those with already short attention spans. DO think about what your child needs to learn from a game. Some math games simply use drill techniques that require the quick retrieval of facts, while others require reasoning and strategy. Drill games can be useful for students who want to recall their times tables quickly, but they won’t prepare them for complicated word problems that require deductive logic. DON’T forget about the classics. Chess and checkers help a child to develop reasoning skills. After a few games of Monopoly, children start to strategize how to spend their money. Rubik’s cubes encourage spatial reasoning. DO make it a fun family experience! Involve everyone in your child’s learning experience. Gather your family, make some popcorn and enjoy some quality time together playing your new game. When everyone plays, the game will be an enjoyable experience that translates to positive associations with the subject for your child. Today’s math games offer everything from addition help to SAT preparation. Here are a few games to try with your child. Measuring Monkeys! Ages 5-7 Go ape as you race your monkey 1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4” or 1” up the tree to reach your banana. A great way to introduce measurement to your child! Auntie Pasta’s Fraction Game Ages 6-8 Teaches your child fractions with a little help from her favorite food. Collect the different pizza slices and put them in your pans before the other players to win. Math Catch and Solve Balls All ages Each patch on these colorful vinyl balls features a different math problem. Toss it back and forth with a friend and answer the math problem underneath your index finger. Math balls include addition, division, multiplication, integers, time and more. Numbskull Ages 14+ Numbskull prepares students for the SAT with questions from the test’s main section. The game’s 300+ questions review math and verbal sections and cover many of the most frequently used vocabulary words from the SAT. To complete the game, players take the NSAT (Numbskull SAT) to see how they’d fare on the real test.