Easy maths games for kids
Six quick games that turn counting, adding, patterns and shapes into play. Each one uses things you already have at home, such as buttons, dice, string and paper, and comes with an age hint, four simple steps and a way to make it harder when your child is ready.
Before you start
Keep things light. Maths is easier to enjoy when it feels like a game, so let your child be the shopkeeper, the detective or the one who hides the number. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.
Looking for more to do together? Try the riddles for kids with answers for number-free brain teasers, or browse everything in Play and learn.
1. Number hunt around the house
Age hint: 5 to 7.
Materials: a pencil and scraps of paper, or nothing at all.
- Pick a number between 1 and 10, such as 4.
- Set a timer for two minutes, or just count to sixty together.
- Run around the house finding groups of that many things: four spoons, four cushions, four shoes.
- Line up each group and count it out loud to check.
Skill practised: Counting and matching a number to a quantity.
Make it harder: Hunt for two numbers at once and add the groups, or pick a number up to 20.
2. Shop with pretend coins
Age hint: 6 to 8.
Materials: buttons, bottle caps or paper circles for coins, plus small toys with sticky-note prices.
- Give every toy a price from 1 to 10 on a sticky note.
- The shopper starts with ten coins and picks two toys.
- The shopkeeper adds the two prices and takes that many coins.
- Swap places, then count how many coins are left.
Skill practised: Adding, taking away and noticing change.
Make it harder: Use prices up to 50, and let the shopper work out the change before handing over coins.
3. Dice and doubles race
Age hint: 6 to 9.
Materials: one or two dice, or a paper cube numbered 1 to 6, and a piece of paper.
- Roll the die and say the number you get.
- Double it out loud, so a 4 becomes 8.
- Write the answer on your score sheet.
- After five rolls, add up all your doubles. The higher total wins.
Skill practised: Doubling, adding and quick recall of number facts.
Make it harder: Roll two dice and double the total, or try halving even numbers instead.
4. Pattern necklace
Age hint: 5 to 8.
Materials: string or a shoelace and beads, pasta tubes, or paper-chain strips in two or three colours.
- Choose two colours, such as red and blue.
- Thread a pattern like red, blue, red, blue.
- Ask a grown-up or friend to guess which colour comes next.
- Keep going until the necklace fits, then try a new pattern.
Skill practised: Spotting, copying and continuing patterns.
Make it harder: Try a three-step pattern such as red, red, blue, or ask what the twentieth bead would be.
Grown-up note: Keep necklaces and strings off while playing, use short lengths of string, and keep small beads away from children under 5.
5. Shape detective walk
Age hint: 5 to 7.
Materials: a clipboard or notebook and a pencil.
- Draw a circle, square, triangle and rectangle in a row.
- Walk through your home or garden as detectives.
- Tick a shape each time you spot it, such as a round clock or a square tile.
- Count the ticks and share your best find.
Skill practised: Naming shapes and counting their sides and corners.
Make it harder: Hunt for solid shapes such as boxes, balls and tins, and describe their faces.
6. Guess my number
Age hint: 7 to 10.
Materials: only your voices, and paper if you want to track guesses.
- Think of a secret number from 1 to 50 and keep it hidden.
- Your partner guesses, and you answer higher or lower.
- Count how many guesses it takes to find it.
- Swap roles and try to beat that score.
Skill practised: Number order, comparing and reasoning.
Make it harder: Add clues such as even or odd, or widen the range up to 100.
A note for parents
Praise effort and clever thinking, not only right answers. Try saying “I like how you checked that” when a guess misses. Keep each session short, stop while it is still fun, and let mistakes be part of the game. Playing together also shows your child that maths is something families can enjoy.
For younger children aged 3 to 6, start with our gentler counting games for kids. Teachers can borrow these games for circle time; see Rangooo for teachers. For a whole evening of play, see family game night ideas for kids. For a screen-free change of pace, try the easy science activities or the stories and activities. Stuck indoors? These games also fit a wet afternoon alongside rainy day activities for kids.
Questions
What maths games can young children play without equipment?
Number hunts, guess my number and a shape detective walk need no equipment. Each uses things you already have at home, plus a pencil and paper if you like.
How long should a maths game last?
Short is best. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty for most children, and stopping while they still want more makes them keen to play again.
Which game suits a five-year-old?
Number hunt and pattern necklace are gentle starts. They focus on counting and spotting what comes next, with no writing needed.
How do these games help with school maths?
They give children relaxed practice with counting, adding, patterns and shapes. They sit alongside schoolwork and are not a replacement for it.
These are our own simple game ideas, made for fun practice at home. Adapt them to your child, and supervise young children with small items such as beads and buttons, which can be a choking risk. If you spot a mistake, please tell us and we will fix it.