Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

DS wants maths for Christmas

38 replies

OhBuggerandArse · 03/12/2013 21:19

He is 6. In love with maths at the moment. His class is going a wee bit slowly methodically, he's getting some extra stuff to do in school but is desperate to do more, particularly multiplication.

Any ideas of what I can get for him that is enjoyable and might give him a bit of added interest without messing up the way they want to do things in class?

He thinks he wants worksheets, I'd quite like to see if I can find something that lets him play around a bit with concepts and stuff. Have had a bit of a browse around Amazon but everything I've found so far looks so linked to schemes and whole programmes that I'm losing my way a bit.

Any suggestions would be very gratefully received!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ilovepowerhoop · 03/12/2013 21:22

tesco had a workbook that we got for ds. Or he could play on www.educationcity.com/

ilovepowerhoop · 03/12/2013 21:26

selection of maths stuff at tesco

Jellyandjam · 03/12/2013 21:28

My DD is the same. Whenever we are out she wants to buy a maths workbook. Last year I got her a couple of books from the book people website, one was 50 things you should know about mathematics and another about becoming a maths genius or something like that. Rather than just worksheets they are more about how maths is used in the real world, through history, puzzles etc.
We also recently got her monopoly, as that has lots of maths involved it. She loves it!

MisForMumNotMaid · 03/12/2013 21:30

Rush Hour logic puzzles could be fun

GoodnessKnows · 03/12/2013 21:30

For super (and fre) maths worksheets, google Dads Worksheets.
Absolute goldstone!

MoreThanChristmasCrackers · 03/12/2013 21:32

How about maths games and puzzles, they won't teach per se and are fun.

clearsommespace · 03/12/2013 21:33

There's some good stuff on the Happy Puzzle Company web site

Vicki1972 · 03/12/2013 21:34

www.happypuzzle.co.uk/categories/maths-and-words.aspx

A few maths games here

Vicki1972 · 03/12/2013 21:34

Crossposted with clear Blush

Original poster
OhBuggerandArse · 03/12/2013 21:37

Oh you lot are great! Loads of good links already. Thank you so much.

I realise one of the problems is that I don't know what the Key Stages mean - I'm not sure we use them in Scotland? So I don't know what level materials I should be looking for.

OP posts:
Hashbag · 03/12/2013 21:37

Have you looked at the Happy Puzzle Company's website? They have some maths games which look like they might suit your son. My son also professes to love maths and is now getting into science - he's almost 7, so a similar age. We're looking at electronics kits too. Maybe they would interest you som too - google Cambridge Brain Box toys and you'll find some examples. How nice that he doesn't just want plastic trash!

POTC · 03/12/2013 21:38

Rush hour is brilliant - we discovered it when ds2 had to stay in hospital as they use it in their education room.
What about a subscription to mathletics or education city? Or if your school use a different maths site a subscription to that? My boys love both sites and for several years the eldest had a subscription from grandparents. The great thing about them is that you can adjust the level of work and set it a bit higher if he's finding it too easy.

twentyten · 03/12/2013 21:39

Ks1 is 5-7,ks2 is 7-11 .

Hashbag · 03/12/2013 21:39

Sorry, another crossed post. I'm a bit slow this evening.

thecatfromjapan · 03/12/2013 21:40

My offspring loved "Rush Hour"! A proper abacus might be good, too, and have a look around on line for videos about how to use them.

There must be a book with interesting mathamatical things in it aimed at chlldren. I've been reading "Number" and it is very good. Something like that, but for children, with experiments they can make and play, would be great, wouldn't it?*

*"Number" has some great "games" in it, with matchsticks and fractions: things you can "play", that make you think about the different ways people have found solutions to mathematical, real world problems.

Vicki1972 · 03/12/2013 21:44

www.happypuzzle.co.uk/products/TRUCKY-3.aspx

How about Trucky 3, a shape based logical problem solving game, somewhat similar to Rush Hour.

Happy puzzle company (sorry, not on a commission, honest!) is a good place to browse for other similar types of logic games if he isn't into cars.

tipp2chicago · 03/12/2013 21:45

Maybe her teacher might have some suggestions?

exexpat · 03/12/2013 21:48

DS loved the Magic Cauldron game at that age.

mydaftlass · 03/12/2013 21:48

My 6 year old likes these workbooks: www.amazon.co.uk/Letts-Magical-Topics-Messy-Maths/dp/1843151243/ref=pd_sim_b_3
There's quite a few in the series.

Original poster
OhBuggerandArse · 03/12/2013 21:49

Love all the games, they look great.

I found this Usborne book on Amazon which looks like it has potential.

Is the Murderous Maths stuff better for someone a bit older, do you think, or might he get something out of it anyway?

OP posts:
Original poster
OhBuggerandArse · 03/12/2013 21:50

Thanks for explaining the key stages, twentyten - that's really helpful.

OP posts:
exexpat · 03/12/2013 21:52

Just remembered another: DS enjoyed some books of maths rhymes and riddles by Greg Tang - The Grapes of Math was one, Math for All Seasons was another, but he's done quite a few. They are American books, so mostly seem to be available second-hand or as Kindle editions here.

sheeplikessleep · 03/12/2013 21:58

Just marking my place, as my DS is also 6 and a bit in love with maths and I want to pinch some of these ideas.

ilovepowerhoop · 03/12/2013 22:05

we dont use Key Stages in Scotland (afaik) but you can go by the age guide given above to get an idea of what level he would be at.