Fun Games for Kids Who Hate Math

Elementary school aged children can already have developed a dislike for math. However, the fundamentals of arithmatic, such as addition facts, must be learned. Instead of boring math fact drills and flashcards, try some of these fun addition math fact games for kids who hate math.

Fun Addition Math Game – Around the Block Game

Why settle for a boring board game when you can get outside and see the neighborhood? Challenge a partner to an around the block board game. You must have a sidewalk with grooves in it to play as each large square will be one space on the game board.

To play, the player whose turn it is can roll a pair of dice, add the numbers up, and move that many spaces. Take turns and see who gets around the block quicker. If a player gets the addition problem wrong, he must go back three spaces.

Fun Addition Math Game – Math Codes

Disguising addition as reading a poem or answering trivia questions is a great way to make math fun. Pick a letter or word for each number and give the clues in the form of addition problems. Your child will be enjoy discovering the secret code word and the relationships between addition facts.

Fun Addition Math Game – Addition Tower Game

To play this fun and educational game, you need some flat cookies or crackers like vanilla wafers or sandwich cookies. The players should take turns putting a number of cookies onto a stack in the middle of the table. For example, the first player puts three cookies and the second puts two. He must be able to add the two numbers together to place his cookies. Continue doing this until the tower topples.

Fun Addition Math Game – Card Games

Instead of boring flashcards, use regular playing cards and a simple game like War to learn addition skills. Instead of comparing the values of one card from each player, put down two each and compare the sums.

Fun Addition Math Game – Math Puzzles

While worksheets of rows of addition problems are great for making the students familiar with the addition math facts, they are pure torture for the kids who hate math. Our family favorites for fun addition puzzle worksheets include Sudoku and Runaway Math Puzzles from Edhelper.com. The runaway math puzzles are just like crossword puzzles where your child must add up numbers to fit them into the puzzle.

Making addition fun for kids who hate math can be challenging. Since it is a necessary skill to learn in the younger grades, using fun addition games will lessen the complaints and help your kids learn.