Math Made Fun: Tools Parents Can Use at Home

We just kicked off our sixth year of homeschooling! Since starting this journey back in January 2020, we’ve experienced so much life and growth together. Along the way, my philosophies as both a parent and a teacher have shifted in some ways and stayed steady in others.

One thing that hasn’t changed? The value of having the right tools on hand to make learning math fun and meaningful. Today I’m excited to share five of our favorite math tools—and how we actually use them in our homeschool.

**In an effort to be transparent, I may earn a small commission if you purchase any of these tools through my shared links. My family and I appreciate your support!

Dice!

We use dice often to practice math facts. There are so many variations and it's a great way to engage with your kids. You can also have siblings play against each other. For younger kids, give your child one 6-sided die and you keep one. Roll the dice at the same time and take turns adding, subtracting, or multiplying them. Do the same thing with older kids, but choose 12-sided or even 20-sided dice! Once their confidence increases, ramp it up with a competition!

Fraction Cubes!

It can be a challenge to move from whole numbers to rational numbers. Adding these Fraction Cubes to your math tool box is super helpful when introducing the complex idea. Stack them, compare heights, determine equivalent fractions - there are many possibilities. We get them out again and again with my visual learners. Measuring cups are also awesome. Add them to a sensory bin with rice or water in those younger years and watch your child's number sense soar.

Mini Erasers!

Do your kids love to collect tiny things as much as mine do? I picked up several packs of mini erasers years ago and keep them separated in small containers like these. For younger kids, we practiced sorting them by type or color. We've used them to practice skip counting, adding, subtracting, and multiplication - helping to make these abstract concepts more concrete. We also pull them out when a word problem is giving us trouble. I won't be getting rid of them anytime soon - we'll continue using these mini erasers for representing probability, making bar graphs, algebraic concepts, and more! Math doesn't have to be stuck on a worksheet. It's better when you add physical objects (and these cute erasers help)!

Geometric Pattern Blocks!

These are great for a variety of ages and stages. I like this particular set because the pattern cards that are included are small - meaning that my kids had to look at the pattern and create it on their own. There are also other sets available, like this one, that have larger patterns so that kids can set the geometric shapes on top - more like a matching sequence. This tool introduced my kids to several geometric shapes - their names, number of sides and angles, symmetry, and basic patterns.

A Clock!

We actually use a big pink analog clock that we never replaced the batteries in to practice telling time. We also had an awesome clock puzzle that had different colors in addition to the hour and minute hands that we could move. This clock is pretty similar and I like how it has the shapes in addition to the colors and numbers. I know you may be wondering why telling time on an analog clock is relevant in today's digital world - it's helps form a great foundation for understanding fractions and number sense in addition to skip counting and multiplication. Don't skip it!

There are so many great ways to incorporate hands on learning in your child's math education routine. Not only will it strengthen their foundation in mathematics, but all the activities and tools I suggested above allow for you to spend intentional time with your kids, creating memories, and strengthening your bond.

What are some of your favorite hands-on math activities or tools that you’ve used with your child? I’d love to hear what’s worked in your home!