Today, I used painter’s tape to create numbers 1 to 12 in boxes on the floor of our playroom. We came up with 3 fun games to practice math skills, while getting the kids moving at the same time. We came up with these 3 games, but the possibilities are endless—if you try it and come up with a new one, let me know!
Jump Math:
I shout out an equation that matches each child’s skill set (more challenging problems for my 7 year old, and simpler problems for my 4 year old). The child has to jump to the number that is the answer to the equation. For example, I’ll shout “4+7!” and my son jumped to 11. Or, I shouted “2+2!” for my daughter, and she jumped to 4.
You can get more challenging with this game by using multiplication and division! Here are some examples of equations that work well with this game:
1+3+4
12%2
3x9
1+3+5
1+5-2
2+6-3
8%1
2x4-2
You can mix up the game by switching roles—your child shouts out the equations, and the parent has to jump to the correct number. My kids loved watching me solve their problems, and we even snuck out their Dad from his home office for a few minutes so they could try to “stump” him with the hardest equations.
Catch The Number:
Tell your child to jump 3 numbers in a row as quickly as they can, and try to tell them the number they jumped. For example, if they jump from 1 to 3 to 6, that would be “136”. The faster they jump, the harder it is to see the number! Visa versa, the parent can jump a certain set of numbers and see if the kids can figure out what number it was. For an extra challenge, try 4 numbers to make a number in the thousands.
Math Twister:
Play twister with a math twist (bad pun, sorry!). Tell your child “left hand o 6!” and then “Right foot on 4!” until they eventually fall over laughing :) Then switch it up, and let your child guide where your hands and feet go!
Do you have any favorite indoor movement activities for hot or rainy days that you love?
Photos & text by DianaLevine.com. Please do not sure without permission.