Math Fun On the Go!

By Shana Cloud Mojica, M.S., Director of Learning and Impact at Noggin

Whenever I need a quick activity to keep my child calm and focused, it’s helpful to have my child’s tablet available to play with an educational app like Noggin. But sometimes, an internet connection is faulty, or ::gasp::, the tablet battery runs out. Here are a few math activities you can play using nothing but your brain.

Play “I Spy”

Younger children

Kids who prefer to point or are just learning how to name numbers and shapes can play this game. They can point or shout out “There!” or “I see it!” when they spot any number or shape in the environment.

I spy a number

Outside in the neighborhood? Ask them to spot a number, especially numbers on and inside buildings. You can also help them recognize the number on their own home, school, or other important building. If it’s a number they can’t quite read, read it aloud for them!

Older children

Kids who know the names of a few shapes can play this game.

I spy a shape

Outside in the neighborhood? Ask them to spot rectangles, triangles, octagons, and other standard shapes of street signs. Then use that moment to talk about what the signs mean and learn about street safety.

The Waiting Game

Waiting is hard. Help kids stay calm and regulated by playing a counting game.

If you’re not sure how long you’ll be waiting, count up. Take turns counting until you get to the greatest number you can (also works when you have multiple kids). As each person counts, they’ll be skip counting!

Blast Off

If you can estimate how long you’ll be waiting, or want to provide some time for a kid to transition to a new activity or place, try counting down.

Start by counting down from 10, and celebrate when time’s up by cheering “blast off!” Your child can even jump to launch themselves into the next task.
Need more time? Count down from a larger number.
Does the child need help with taking multiple steps? Count down from a smaller number multiple times.
Mix it up by counting down from different numbers, especially numbers that are harder to remember what comes next or before. For example, kids can often forget the jump from a number ending in 9 to a number ending in 0. Counting down from 31 can help them remember 31, 30, 29.

Sing a Song!

“Hickory Dickory Dock”

Invite the child to say the next number that the clock strikes.

“5 Little Ducks” and “5 Little Speckled Frogs”

These two songs are fun counting down/subtraction songs. Each time you sing, switch up the animals or change the number of animals you sing down from!