Maths games for 5-6 year olds

[SuePurblybiltbyElves]

DD (Reception) is having trouble atm with subtraction. Mostly because (I think) the language used at school is a bit all over the place - they use 'take away', 'subtract' and (my personal fave ) 'less' - as in 'what's five less one?'.

There's not much I can do about that, she'll have to get to grips with the language used. But I could make it easier by improving her confidence with subtracting so at least she doesn't worry about that aspect. Does anyone know of any good board games, reasonably priced gadgets or website games that help with subtraction or basic maths?

DS1's reception teacher told us to use everyday objects - shoes, satsumas etc - with DS1 for the how many game. Seemed to help.

DH has an ipad and DS1 likese the kindergarten app on it - basic spelling and math games (addition and subtraction) - which earns you coins and you can buy things from the shop with it.

Sum Swamp

DD loved this when she was younger

Lots of good ones on here:

www.ict.games.com

The language is deliberately varied - just tell her they all mean the same thing.

Presumably she's still doing small numbers under 10 so she can use her fingers when she doesn't have lego bricks, bits of pasta etc to hand.

I think it really helps to do it a home with 'real' things though so that it becomes a solid idea not just abstract numbers.

Also has got a good understanding of the additions first.

So if 4+3 = 7
If you have 7 and you take away 3, what do you have left?

She can do additions up to 10 in her sleep, up to 20 with some thinking . She's just got a mental block about subtraction for some reason, I think she's afraid to try because of the earlier language confusion. She HATES getting things wrong .

We do do lots of counting with 'things', we always have so it's second nature now (lots of odd looks when I count myself up the stairs in a jolly voice at work ). She seems OK when we do it but her teacher has said a few times that she hasn't 'seen evidence' of DD being able to do it or that she seems to be struggling with the subtraction more than anything else. She's very confident with reading and writing and in general so I bet she sticks to stuff she's good at and doesn't bother trying with the stuff she finds hard like me.

The links look good, thank you and the swamp game can be on the stocking list .

Schools deliberately use different words to describe maths functions. Subtraction is take away / less than / fewer / etc. You will see this vocabularly displayed in the vast majority of classrooms.

www.ictgames.com is brilliant - many teachers use the games on the interactive whiteboards.

Play card games. A pack of cards is the single most versatile learning tool in the world ! Make up your own games, or try this:

letsplaymath.net/2006/12/29/the-game-that-is-worth-1000-worksheets/

Great thing is - this actually WORKS !

The ictgames.com link doesn't work - anyone got one that does?

Ict games

She can do additions up to 10 in her sleep, up to 20 with some thinking grin. She's just got a mental block about subtraction for some reason,

She needs to understand that subtraction is the opposite to addition and if she knows the addition facts then she already knows the subtraction facts.

4+6=10 & 6+4=10
10-4=6 & 10-6=4

mrz is right. Knowing the inverses is very useful.

Try subtraction by finding the difference by counting up. e.g. I have 16 how many more to make 20.

20-16

For bigger numbers use a number line. Count up to the nearest ten first, then carry on in tens.

A maths advisor once told me that children whop become very confident with number lines develop better mental maths skills.

Count on Convict is a nice little game to practise this.

Thank you all, I will go through the replies properly when I have a quiet moment and make some plans .