There are so many fascinating subjects you can learn about in this world.
We at Smalljoys are positive that all of them are absolutely amazing, but as kids, we often weren’t taught them in an interesting enough way. That’s why we’ve decided to return to our childhood for a while and imagine how we’d have preferred to study math.
Everyone, snacks on the table!
This kind of math exercise will make any kid happy. Prepare some sheets of paper with different numbers of circles on them and count together with the help of candy. Which, by the way, can be replaced by anything your child loves — berries, fruit, or crunchy crackers.
Merry pegs
Is mom going to dry the clothes on the line? No, today she’s brought those colorful pegs for another kind of activity. Draw different amounts of apples on popsicle sticks and write the corresponding numbers on the pegs. Your kid will have fun matching the fitting pegs and sticks.
Marshmallow counts
This way of counting is loved by kids with a sweet tooth. Cut out a big cup out of paper and throw a die, then put that number of marshmallows in the cup.
Musical science
A great idea for those who are ready to stand a little cacophony in the name of arithmetic. Put a sticker with a number on each key and ask your kid to make a certain number using the right keys.
Let’s grow a garden!
If you have some spare pom-poms, use them to make your own little garden. You could also use different colored round pieces of sponge instead. In winter this is an especially great activity for kids, because you can decorate a Christmas tree!
More, or less?
Who didn’t have trouble with the ’greater than’ and ’less than’ signs in math class? This cute crocodile will help your kid learn which is which.
Dress the snowman
A game for long winter evenings. Change the hat and your kid will have to dress the snowman in different clothes. It’s pretty hard to prepare in advance, but then this game will work a treat for a long time.
Apple fractions
There’s no better teacher to study fractions with than apples! They’re easy to cut into halves and quarters so that the child can eat a piece as a reward for success.
Fractions and clocks for the strong of heart
This one is for kids who have already learned fractions and hours, but still have trouble with the latter. It’s easy to explain fractions with the help of a clock, and all the quarters to and halves past will settle down better this way.
Hopscotch
This is another great way to introduce numbers. Make big digits with duct tape on the floor and let the corridor become the arena for your little leaper. For advanced learners, make the task a bit more difficult by giving them math problems, where the solution is not a word but a certain number of jumps. Fun is guaranteed!
A little bonus: clock wisdom
An interactive clock like this will help your kids find themselves in time, and they can always check their knowledge by folding the paper flaps. When making the clock, make sure that the hour hand color corresponds with the color of the hour face, and the minute hand is the same color as the minute face.
Paper cups
Take 5 paper cups. Write numbers from 0 to 9 on the rims of three of them. On the other two, draw signs — for addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and the equals sign. Group them together and add new paper cups in order to use them for examples. This way, math will be interesting and fun.