Playing games can help students practice important math skills which is why we’ve rounded up the best math card games for kids. Card games have a long history of helping kids developmentally and educationally. If you haven’t incorporated card games into your classroom or homeschool, here are a few reasons why as well as some ideas to help get you started.
Benefits of Using Math Card Games
There are two main motor skills that are fostered when a student plays with card games. For starters, they are developing their motor skills (both large and small). The act of having to hold the cards, flip them, stack, match, and the like are putting lots of body parts into action.
They are also using cognitive skills. Many of these skills are subconscious but are linked to connecting very important dots in the brain. These ‘dots’ are building bridges to being able to learn, comprehend, and work a variety of mathematical problems. From memorizing and matching to number patterns and recognition, using math card games helps with this and more.
Although kids may not realize they are learning while playing card games, they do need to be fun in order to keep their attention. The math card games listed below are sure to do just that!
Best Math Card Games for Kids
1. Outnumbered: Improbable Heroes
Geared for upper elementary ages students, this is a cooperative strategy math card game. It is appealing to the eye and invites students to strategically plan sequence attacks together. Players will have to use a variety of math skills to accomplish the task of overcoming counterattacks and chaos.
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2. Alana’s Animals: A Beginner’s Counting and Math Game
This math game is for the little learners who are starting to learn how to count and work on beginner math concepts like addition and subtraction. If you have kids that are not as confident in learning these math skills, this game will help take the pressure off learning and put it on the fun of it. Alana’s Animals is not just a game, but also a resource teachers and parents love.
3. Math Rush
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Math Rush is a time-based math card game that comes in three different volumes: Addition & Subtraction, Multiplication & Exponents, and Fractions, Decimals & Percentages. In addition to being time-based, these card game sets are also cooperative-learning games. Up to five players must balance strategy and speed to rack up as many points as possible. Each player must think fast as they work together to complete as many goals as possible, especially before time runs out.
4. Number Slap Jack
Number Slap Jack is a 0 thru 20 counting and number recognition learning game for Preschool and Kindergarten aged kids. The game can be used to play Number Slap Jack, and Find My Number Match game, or as small number flash cards. You’ll appreciate the smaller game cards size which makes them easier for kids to hold and play the game.
5. Math Blast
Created with the help of elementary school teachers, this math game guarantees hours of laughter all while learning multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. It is loved by teachers, parents, families, and students. It’s also an excellent gift for a math teacher and/or homeschooling parent. They can be used in the classroom, homeschool, or for fun family game nights.
6. Clumsy Thief Junior
Clumsy Thief Junior is a hilarious game of give and take where kids develop confidence and solid math skills. Every player has fun as cards are constantly changing hands. Players look at their dealt hand for any two cards that add to 10 to make food stacks. Get stacks from other players if you have a card in your hand that makes 10 when added to the top card of an opponent’s stack. Thief cards take food stacks. Trap cards stop the Thief cards. All players are actively adding and snatching. The player with the most cards wins!
7. Boom Goes the Dynamite
Boom Goes the Dynamite is a dynamic matching game with an explosive twist. It only takes 3 minutes to learn and 15 minutes to play. This game is geared for kids ages 7 and up. Math operation cards, other action cards, and the dynamite card all make this a game that is perfect for the classroom, homeschooling, or just as a fun game with family and friends. The mission is to find and ignite matches using math, your memory, and a little bit of luck. The twist is that the cards in the matchbox are constantly changing and sometimes everything explodes.
8. Fracto
Fractions are typically one of the toughest math concepts to learn. Use this 3 in 1 card game to learn, understand, and ace fraction concepts. It’s a great tool to get kids to enjoy math. With this math card game, you can help your kids acquire essential life skills like memory, strategy, visual reasoning, and communication. They will also foster moral values like patience, honesty, and respect for opponents.
9. Proof
This is an award-winning card game that promotes mental math skills for your kids! Practice multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, and square roots in a fun and engaging way!
10. Math Tricks
A fun card game containing intriguing math tricks. It contains shortcuts to math sums that allow your child to build more confidence and look like a Genius at the same time. Simply roll the dice, pick a card, look at the shortcut explained, and apply the trick. The biggest feedback on this game is it helps reduce a child’s anxiety when it comes to math.
Image Title Price Prime Buy
Top Outnumbered: Improbable Heroes | A Cooperative Superhero Math Game! Roll Dice, Do Math, Save The City! PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Math Rush 2: Multiplication & Exponents | A Cooperative Time-Based Math Card Game PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Number Slap Jack - a Fun Number Recognition and Counting Game – Kids learn Numbers 0-20 While Playing a Fun Card Game - Perfect for Pre-K Kindergarten and 1st Grade Learners PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Math Blast! Math Game for Kids 8 - 12 & Over - Fun Educational Board Game - Learn Math The Fun Way PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Melon Rind Clumsy Thief Money Game - Adding to 100 Math Game for Kids (Ages 8 and up) PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Melon Rind Clumsy Thief Junior Math Game - Adding to 10 Card Game for Kids (Ages 5 and up) PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Melon Rind Clumsy Thief in The Candy Shop Math Game- Adding to 20 Card Game for Kids (Ages 8 and up) PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Melon Rind Check The Oven! Math Game - Adding to 12 Card Game for Kids (Ages 7 and up) PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Boom Goes The Dynamite Card Game for Kids, Teens, Adults, Family, Memory, Matching, Math, STEM, 2-6 Players Per Deck, Stocking Stuffer PrimeEligible Buy Now
Top Luma World Fracto Educational Card Game for 8+ Years to Learn Fractions, Mental Math, Memory and Communication, Visual and Number Cards Included, 15 Minutes Game and 2-4 Players, Set of 80 Cards PrimeEligible Buy Now Proof! Math Game - The Fast Paced Game of Mental Math Magic - Teachers’ Choice Award Winning Educational Game, Ages 9+ PrimeEligible Buy Now Blobby's Pizza Math Card Game: Crazy Fun Strategic Pizza Eating Contest Between Cute Monsters! PrimeEligible Buy Now
Final Thoughts
Adding math card games for kids into your classroom and/or homeschool is super easy. Just carve out a chunk of time dedicated to playing. You may be surprised to find that your kids want to spend more time doing math because of math card games. The ones mentioned above are perfect starters to help teach important concepts as well as work on previously taught ones. Start with a game or two and then slowly add to your stash. You’ll be glad you did!
Do you already play math card games with your kids? What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
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