Some kids take to math as fish do to water; others hate, fear and loathe it. Actually, teaching beginning math skills to a 3 year old is as easy as 1+1=2, if you go about it the right way. And no, getting him to push paper is NOT the right way.So, what’s a parent to do? Try some of these kids’ math games that teach your child how to count –and put the fun back into learning!

1. Neighborhood Number Crunch

Your neighborhood is packed with numbers – all you need to do is get your child to pay attention. Take him for a stroll around the block and watch out for numbers painted on street signs, mailboxes, doorways and curbs. As soon as you spot a number, call it out. See who can spot the most numbers. Want to make this kids’ math game a tad more challenging? Have your child count up to the number he spots.  For added variety, count trees, cars, dogs or even people dressed in red.

2. Cookie Bake ‘n’ Learn

Kids love cookies! But apart from being good to eat, cookies can also help your child learn counting. For a simple math lesson, have him count the number of cookies in a freshly baked batch. For more advanced learners, cookies can be the perfect fractions lesson as he cuts each into thirds, fourths, eighths or halves. Young children are visual learners and the act of actually cutting a cookie into fractions and adding or subtracting them can help them understand the lesson better than any worksheet could. This yummy kids’ math game teaches some unforgettable lessons!

3. Play date fun

The next time your toddler’s chums come over, have them play some classic games that also incorporate counting skills. For a game of hide-and-seek, ask your child to be “It.” As his friends hide, encourage him to count to 10 or 20 or even 50 if possible. For an older child, a hopscotch course in the yard is a great kids’ math game that hones his counting as well as large motor skills. If the kids are in the mood for something quieter, get them to play the classic board game Chutes and Ladders that has them counting their way up ladders and down chutes as the die rolls.

4. 20 Questions Daily Math

Make math a part of your child’s everyday routine. Challenge him with math questions related to the things he does in his daily life. For instance,

·   At a red light, how many black cars can he spot?

·  At the dentist’s, how many people will be left in the waiting room if five are called in?

·  If you ate only 1/3of your dinner, how much would you have left over?

·  How many Mars bars would you be able to buy if you had $5?

These kids’ math games are sure to challenge and intrigue your child. Just try to make them as creative and fun as possible!

With the educational curriculum becoming more and more extensive, students are no longer sparing any effort to memorize the multiplication times tables. The importance of learning the times tables, multiplication in other words, remains extremely vital in shaping a child’s future. Easily available online multiplication worksheets come to the quick rescue of students, parents, and teachers alike. They are free, fun, engaging, and more often than not are made by subject matter experts who have commendable knowledge of the subject. Parents can provide greater opportunities to their kids to succeed in math by encouraging them to practice the concept using these multiplication worksheets. Parents and teachers have to work in tandem to ensure that the kids are not lagging behind and learn the basics of this commonly applied discipline in our lives.

How to introduce multiplication to kids –
Students are introduced to multiplication after having mastered counting, addition, and subtraction. Therefore, a good idea is to introduce multiplication to kids with single digit numbers. Plenty of single-digit multiplication worksheets are available online to help parents start the lesson at home. Once kids get enough practice with worksheets based on single digit multiplication, teachers and parents can introduce double digit multiplication. Add some variety to the learning process by engaging kids with fun multiplication activities and games as well. As the kids continue solving the multiplication worksheets at home and in school, teachers can discuss a few easy tips and tricks to grasp their attention and hold their interest. Here are some great multiplication tips to keep in mind –

4 times tables –
If you know how to double a number, then double a number twice and you have the result!

11 times tables –
Take any number till 10 and multiply it by 11.
Multiply 11 by 3 to get 33, multiply 11 by 4 to get 44. Each number to 10 is just duplicated.
Or, for numbers greater than 10:
Foer example: 11*18. Jot down 1 and 8 with a space between it, similar to 1 -- 8.
Add the 8 and the 1 and put that number in the middle. 11*18=198.
9 times table –
This trick works for numbers till 10.
Hold your hands in front of you with your fingers spread out.
For 9 X 2 bend your second finger down. (9 X 3 would be the third finger etc.)
You have 1 finger in front of the bent finger and 8 after the bent finger.
Your answer is 18!
Prepare a multiplication pattern chart and put it up in the class. Encourage them to see and understand that 6 x 4 is equal to 4 x 6.
Also, practice addition with them. As soon as they learn to skip count, multiplication will be a cakewalk for them!
The key to succeed in multiplication is practice. Tips, tricks, and multiplication worksheets and activities can certainly go a long way in helping the little ones!