How to give your child a head start in life.
Math Educational toys
A math educational toy that is aimed at preschoolers should teach numbers and basic numeracy skills. This type of toy is particularly appealing as it helps prepare children for starting school.
The fun activities these toys promote will grab their attention and make learning easy and enjoyable.
Learning math through play!
A math educational toy will encourage preschoolers to learn math through play. A good toy will encourage physical, mental and social development. And many toys in this group do all three.
Mental development is obviously encouraged by playing with toys in this group. Children will learn numbers, basic counting skills and may even progress to addition and subtraction.
Look for a math educational toy that also encourages physical and/or social development. For example, a math puzzle will improve hand eye co-ordination while a multiplayer game will encourage co-operative play with other children.
What to look for
In math educational toys
- If you’re looking for a math educational toy for a toddler then it must be made from sturdy, non-toxic materials. Be careful of toys containing very small parts.
Safety Warning
Safe Math
Make sure that the math educational toy you pick for a toddler does not contain small parts.
Parts should be chunky but easy to grip and made out of non-toxic materials.
- Look for toys that are full of texture and color as this will grab attention.
- Preschoolers should first learn numbers and then progress to counting. Some preschoolers are able to learn addition and subtraction but few will get onto multiplication and division.
- A good math educational toy will teach through active or interactive learning. Combining physical activities with learning in this way helps to consolidate knowledge and improve physical development.
Dominoes are older than your grandma!
Did you know that the oldest domino sets are about 900 years old?
The game originated in China. But 200 years ago it became popular in Europe in the form we know it today.
If dominoes used only the numbers one thru six then each piece would represent one outcome of throwing two dice. There are 21 such outcomes.
Dominoes also include zeroes (blanks) – like having two seven sided dice! That’s why there are 28 pieces in a domino set.
You can use a domino set to play many different games, just as you would for a pack of cards.
Most of these games are designed for adults. But you can still use dominos as a math educational toy for toddlers. Any child will love falling dominos. Line them up, count them and then watch them fall!
Here are the Math Educational toys we have reviewed…
Melissa & Doug Hands Counting Peg Puzzle
This durable wooden puzzle represents left and right hands.
Each finger/thumb piece is clearly numbered. Count them just as you would on your own fingers! This math educational toy makes counting and number learning fun for toddlers.
Guided play will also bring an understanding of the difference between left and right and improve color recognition.
The peg pieces are easily moved around by small hands. Play like this will develop both hand eye co-ordination and dexterity.
The bright colorful design of this puzzle easily encourages learning play.
Good value at around .
Play Idea
Shopping Spree
My younger brother was a toddler when I was 16 and I remember helping to teach him numbers and basic numeracy.
He particularly liked to play ‘shop’. He had his own cash register and play money. And we’d recycle our own food packaging to use as things to buy at his shop.
Enthusiastic role play is essential for this game. Don’t focus play on money because the monetary system is too complicated for toddlers to understand.
Instead it’s a good idea to count the items that are for sale. Try asking for 3 cereal boxes and help count the boxes into your bag.
My brother would play this simple counting game for hours!
This math educational toy has a variety of different games ranging in difficulty from basic number learning and counting to addition and subtraction. It is designed for 2-4 players.
The mat is an electronic toy. A recorded voice will guide your toddler through the games. The idea is to stand on the mat and step on the number corresponding to the correct answer. The answers are timed and you need to speed up as the pace quickens with each level.
Unlike many of its kind, this math educational toy will guide your toddler’s play without needing too much adult input.
Munchkin Foam Bath Learning Toy Pack, Boys, 60 CountWhere better to learn math than in the tub?
Toddlers can be very receptive to learning when in the bath tub. The warm water aids relaxation and so improves concentration.
Included in the pack are numbers 1-10 , 26 floating letters and 24 floating splash cards . The numbers and letters are made from thick, colorful foam. When wet they stick well to the side of the tub.
Light but durable, the foam is easy to move and even chew resistant! Your toddler can learn numbers and develop counting skills.
Help them to match the numbers with the correct design.
This math educational toy proves that learning can happen anywhere! .
This review of Math Educational toys
was written by ..
Heather Brown
– An elder sister, whose brother calls her “Mum””
A timeless classic designed with math in mind.
I had this toy I was young girl and I loved it. Then fourteen years later, when my little brother was born, we brought it out of storage and he loved it too.
It’s a game of chance. Spin the dial to see how many cherries you can pick off the tree and put in your bucket. But watch out, because if you land on the dog or bird then you must return 2 of your cherries to the tree!
Toddlers love taking turns to spin the dial and they’ll learn to count and recognise numbers too.
The cherries are small so don’t leave your toddler unsupervised when playing with this toy. And be careful not to lose any of those cherries because there are no spares.
Good value at around .
An alternative to Math Educational toys ?
You’ll find some interesting alternatives to Math Educational toys in our review of Educational Kid toys or you may select another toy category from the sidebar.
Or for something completely different ..
This interactive electronic toy teaches preschoolers numbers, numeracy, phonics and pre-reading.
This toy is of sturdy design. Toddlers use the ‘magic’ pen to interact with a spiral flipbook. There is a story to read and games to play.
In story mode a recorded voice will read the story. But you can also reread difficult words by touching them with the magic pen. Also on each page are interactive pictures and questions to answer.
Flip the story book over and this toy will guide your toddler through several learning games. If you or your toddler tires of one flipbook then there are many more available to buy separately.
Toddlers can play independently with this interactive portable toy. Note batteries are required.
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