Games/ideas/app ideas to get 8 year old interested in maths

[jeffy22]

My youngest DS age 8 had been having some issues at school with bullying. (Next term will be moving into a new class)
However due to this he's become behind in his school work as he spent most of his time at school worrying about the other kids, (if they were going to be mean to him or not talk to him)
and therefore has gone from one of the top in the class to right near the bottom.

It's his maths that has really suffered, he's lost all confidence, saying he's rubbish at maths and can't do it.
I know he's got a really good brain and picks things up really easily, it's just his confidence that's gone.

Can anyone suggest any fun games, apps etc?
Anything we can do to get his interest back in maths and build up his skills ready for a new start in a new class next term.
His times tables really need help.
But he's fighting us when we try at home to help, so really need to make this fun.

Oh, your poor DS. That sounds really tough for both of you. It’s no wonder he’s lost confidence if he’s been dealing with bullying on top of the usual school pressures. It’s so unfair when something like that affects them academically too. But it’s great that he’ll have a fresh start in a new class next term—new classmates, new vibes, new everything.

As for the maths struggle, I’ve definitely been there. Once they get stuck in the “I’m rubbish at it” mindset, it’s hard to shift. Here are a few things that worked for my youngest (similar age, also had some maths wobbles for different reasons):

Fun Maths Apps & Games That Don’t Feel Like ‘Work’:

• Times Tables Rockstars: A big hit here with its rock star theme, making it a fun competition.
• Numberblocks: Aimed at younger kids but surprisingly effective at building foundational understanding.
• Prodigy: A role-playing game where maths is disguised as spell-casting—super engaging!
• Maths Seeds: More structured but fun and gentle, perfect for rebuilding confidence.

Offline Ideas (That Feel More Like Play):

• Lego Fractions: Using bricks to represent halves, quarters, thirds—great for visual learners.
• Card games & dice: Games like “21,” “maths snap,” or creating silly dice games with addition/multiplication.
• Cooking together: Sneaky maths through measuring ingredients—and cake at the end!
• Money maths: Pretend shop games with change, bonus points if sweets are involved.

Confidence Tricks That Helped Us:

• Letting him teach me something, even if it’s something he already knows—playing teacher is a big confidence booster.
• Reminding him that everyone gets stuck sometimes, even adults (I couldn’t do fractions at school either!).

Keep it short and sweet, stopping while it's still enjoyable—5–10 minutes tops. Leave them wanting more!

Honestly, don’t stress too much if he doesn’t "catch up" before the next term. The key is helping him feel capable again—everything else will fall into place.

You seem like an amazing mum who really understands what he needs. Wishing you all the best for his fresh start—may it be the reset he truly deserves!