Suggestions for good maths type toys for a 5 yr old ?

[unicorn]

Dd1 is showing a real interest in mathematics (early stuff, like adding, subtracting etc)..
now I have never been very good at maths, but really would like to encourage her.

Anybody know of any good, fun toys suitable for this age, that would also help her maths?

I've just bought a game from Boots for a friends dd who is 6. It's called Potty professor or something like that and is a game about multiplication- she may be a bit young
but here it is anyway

Yahtzee is good, and simple games like Snakes and Ladders can be great fun.

You can make board games like Snakes and Ladders more demanding by using two dice and you have to, say, use the difference between the two dice, or use the highest number you roll, or the lowest.

Playing with money is great too - letting them buy things in the shop, and check the change. Or counting out your lose change and bagging it up for the bank.

Another fun thing to do when out walking is playing with car registration plates, (works best with old cars, old-style number plates not new ones!). We do:

Spotting number bonds (pairs of numbers that add up to 10: 4+6, 2+8 etc.)
Or seeing who can rearrange the numbers to make the highest number possible: i.e. 324 rearranges to 432.

HTH

thanks roisin, pixiefish.. good ideas there.
Any more?

I know
I ghad it whne I was littel the addition set of scales

anyone know what I mean

www.elc.co.uk/key-10600/sku-43991/p1-SubCategory/p2-57/SubcatProduct.do

that looks just the thing coddy ! ta..
(you have made me feel better too - even the great codfish can't do links! )

I shall practice my links again here

here is is coddy

I think I have just learnt to do a link!!!!!!!!

Orchard Toys do a range of games which practise mathematical skills -- they seem to be used in schools as well. Pop to the Shops or Incy Wincy spider might be the kind of thing you have in mind.

I got a catalogue through the door today you might be interested in, Unicorn. Its called MindWare. It has educational games and logic puzzles which I haven't seen in other catalogues. I am going to order several things for my nearly 5 yr old. It doesn't have a web address on it but if you're interested I can give you the phone no.

We have some American software on CD ROM it's called Math Missions, targetted at 5-7yo age range. Rising 5yo DS LOVES* it, plays for ages. I really think his understanding of numbers has come on, recommend it highly, but it can be a bit "American" in places like paying for the bus is with American money.

DS also has Pop to the Shops coming to him for Christmas. He played it with a friend in August & became addicted. Friend's mum says that her child (she's told) is the only one in class who can do certain maths things, she's sure it's because of playing that game.

thanks again all
allegra that phone number would be useful, ta. zebra, where did you order 'pop to the shops'?

Message withdrawn

I was just going to recommend
BrightMinds
but Yurtgirl beat me to it! I could spend a fortune there.

no then unicorn
wind your horn in I can do links!

I loved that maths scaels thing

The phone no. to order a mindware catalogue is
01904 696990
Its a bit like brightminds but has some different stuff.

This website is fun

HHee hee hee...just played one of the games there (purely to see what it was like you understand) One of the little sheep ended up straddled over the fence!!
Just added that to my"educational"favs list for ds to try.

brilliant, thanks everyone, some great ideas for xmas pressies, and things to do and over half term here.