Math is fun when we have a strong foundation and when it is presented in an interesting way.
For a strong foundation, we need to start from the basics and build knowledge on top of those basics. For each new concept we learn, we need to repeat exercises around that concept until it is almost effortless to do those exercises.
Since so much repetition is needed, it is important to make the exercises fun. Nowadays we are fortunate because there are lots of great STEM toys to make math fun. All the STEM toys I list below are relevant for both boys and girls and they all give children the chance to learn math concepts.
From age 1
Nesting & Stacking Cubes
Children love building towers and then knocking them to the ground. This product is made of sturdy cardboard, making it safe to knock down without hurting the little one or breaking anything. At the same time, it is quite robust, so it won’t get damaged easily.
With these cubes, children learn the numbers up to 10, the concept of size and order. To make the biggest tower, they have to build it from the biggest to the smallest cube. There are so many math concepts in such a simple toy.
My kids loved this toy and used it time and time again.
LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train
Learning how to count and recognizing the numbers is a very important milestone to achieve. With this Lego Duplo train set, children won’t even realize they are learning such an important skill while they are playing.
The set includes a locomotive, three wagons, bricks decorated with the numbers 0 to 9, and people and animal figures.
My little one, once comfortable with numbers up to 9, started putting numbers together to make 10, 11, and so on.
Baby Blocks Shape Sorter Toy
Shape recognition is another significant milestone and this toy includes many geometric shapes. Children love putting these colorful shapes inside the box and emptying it. An adult can then ask where a certain shape is and where the corresponding hole is, making children familiar with the geometric shape names.
This was another toy both of my kids kept on using and inventing new games out of it.
From age 3
MathLink Cubes
These colorful math link cubes are great to learn sorting, grouping, and sequencing. The set includes 30 suggested activities and 100 cubes. We recommend this set to children who are already interested in math. If the child is still building a passion for math, we would rather go for another option.
Tangram
With the same 7 pieces, children can build hundreds of different patterns. With the tangram, children can gain familiarity with geometric figures while developing spatial reasoning abilities.
Building patterns without any guidance can be quite challenging and frustrating, but this set solves this problem by providing 120 different patterns explaining where each piece needs to be.
This set is still super engaging for both our kids and allows for a lot of creativity as well, once following the cards is too simple.
From age 4
Abacus
Invented by the Chinese around 2500 years ago, it is currently used in many schools and has been proven to be a great brain development tool.
The prerequisites to be ready to learn to calculate with an abacus and take advantage of this tool are the following:
- The child has the motor skills to move the beads confidently;
- The child can count confidently up to 100.
There are many free online tutorials, including youtube videos, explaining how to use an abacus.
My older son, now 5 years old, dominates the abacus for number representation and has demonstrated a lot of interest in it.
Conclusion
With the help of these toys, my kids definitely think math is fun! They are eager to learn more, which helps develop their natural curiosity. This builds a positive feedback look, making the process of learning super engaging.
I hope you find these recommendations useful. If you have any other ideas, please leave a comment below.