Ditch the Flashcards: Kid Approved Ways To Learn Math Facts

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Just like with anything else, learning math facts takes time and patience. Understandably, kids…and parents, can get frustrated easily.

Practicing math facts regularly is the only way to memorize them but this can be boring, tedious, and even anxiety inducing. Below, I’ve listed some of our favorite ways to get in our math fact practice all while keeping it stress free and even…dare I say…enjoyable.

1. Obstacle Course

My son asks to do this regularly for his math fact practice Have the child create an obstacle course however they would like. Each time they complete the course, they have to do one or two math facts. Not only does this get fact practice in but it also gets a good bit of energy out.

2. Use water balloons

All you need to do is fill up however many water balloons you want, take a sharpie, and write your math fact on the outside of each one. Once the child gives you the answer, they get to throw it. This is super simple but a favorite in our house. I usually leave a few plain to give as little rewards throughout that they can just throw.

This works great for learning to read also. We call them word–er balloons.

3. Manipulatives

Manipulatives are great tools to build conceptual understanding, especially with visual and hands on learners. While sometimes a math lesson can turn into playtime, that’s what we want, for our kids to associate learning with joy.

I will mention a helpful tip for those parents who have children like mine that will play forever though, never actually getting to the math. Select a curriculum like Apologia for example, that has only a portion of most lessons using manipulatives, and do that part last. We actually do most of our lessons in reverse, ending with the fun game or hands on activity that is normally meant to be the opener.

I encourage you not to be afraid to change things in any curriculum you choose to meet your child’s specific needs.

Here are some of our most loved math manipulatives:

4. Swat the Answer

This is a simple game to set up. You will just need to write the answers down on post it notes and stick them to a table or counter top. Read a math fact to the child and have them swat the correct answer with a fly swatter.

5. roll the dice

Games are always a winner for us, and roll addition is a favorite. We have a printable in our Etsy shop which includes an addition, subtraction and multiplication version but you can also have the child simply write out the problems. If practicing double digit addition, you will write numbers on cards and have the child draw two cards or roll two dice two times.

If you are looking for a fully hands-on curriculum with lots of games, I recommend checking out Math with Confidence. It does require a good bit of parent involvement but is open and go style and fully scripted.

6. head to the library

Books are a low pressure way to teach math concepts and practice math facts. I have included some of our favorites below. Math with confidence also has several book lists on their website.

7. Let them write Facts around the house

There’s something about writing on a surface of the home that they’re normally not allowed to write on, that gets kids excited. Expo markers will clean off most surfaces very easily. Think windows, sliding glass doors, mirrors, car windows, etc. Not only is this fun to change things up, but writing down math facts helps to solidify them in their memory.

8. All the snacks

For earlier addition, snacks can be used as the manipulative and when they have finished, they get to enjoy the snack. For multiplication, division and just larger math facts, you could put a treat over each fact. Get the correct answer, enjoy the treat..

I find it amazing how well kids can focus when a mini chocolate chip is at stake. If you are looking for homeschool snack inspiration, you can find some here.

9. Check out YouTube

If your child is anything like mine are, they never turn down screen time, even if it’s math related. Sometimes it just takes someone else explaining it or reviewing it for things to click.

10. Math Fact war

Take a standard deck of cards or uno cards and remove all but 0-9. both of you flip two cards. You can use this for addition, subtraction or multiplication practice. The person with the highest answer wins all flipped cards. Continue playing until the deck is finished. Whoever has the most cards at the end wins!. Nothing like a little healthy competition to build excitement around math.

I truly hope that you find these tips helpful for building your child’s excitement around learning math facts. As I said, math fact fluency takes time, so why not make it a joyful time together.

Happy Homeschooling!