Favorite Mental Math Practice Board Games
Board games are so cool for practicing math because there are so many math concepts in board games - addition, subtraction, probability, money, spatial reasoning… Plus it gives kids a real reason why it’s important to learn to quickly add and subtract numbers.
A huge part of elementary math is practicing addition and subtraction facts. Instead of pulling out worksheets to practice this, we almost always pull out a board game. This approach has worked really well for my 6-year-old who has been known to solve math equations with the hymn numbers at church on Sunday. Math has always been treated as something fun in our home which has inspired a love of numbers.
So here are a few of our favorite board games that are great for practicing mental math:
1. Can’t Stop $39
2-4 players. 30 min. This is a push-your-luck game where you are racing to be the first player to advance their marker across the board. You will be adding dice up to 12 to decide which numbers you will be rolling for. Says 9+ but we play with our 6-year-old.
2. Qwixx $12
2-5 players. 15 min. Practice addition up to 12 as you decide which numbers to cross of your board for the highest score. Says 8+ but we play this with our 6-year-old.
3. Zeus on the Loose $24
2-5 players. 15 min. Practice addition up to 100 as you try to end the round with Zeus in your hand. Says 8+ but we play with our 6-year-old.
4. Outnumbered Improbable Heros $27
1-6 players. 30 min. A collaborative game where players can use their choice of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division to defeat the villains before they invade the city. Says 8+ but we play this with our 6-year-old.
5. Sleeping Queens $12
2-5 players. 20 min. Build addition or subtraction equations to get rid of cards as you search for kings to wake queens. Says 8+ but we play this with our 6-year-old.
6. Math Island $21
2-4 players. 20 min. Practice addition and subtraction up to 20 to race across the island through various obstacles to be there first person to the plane.
For more board game ideas for kids you can check out this post about some of our favorite board games with littles.
