Tis the season for toys galore. Consider adding math games, puzzles and books to your shopping list to introduce kids to how fun math can be.

When kids play games, they use their creativity and develop their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. The Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival (JRMF) staff share their current favorites below.

 

1. The Crew

Cover of boardgame The Crew

Photo credit: Amazon

A collaborative game comprised of 50 missions in outerspace. The only way to succeed is to work together as a team.

2. Pentago

Cover of Pentago board game

Photo courtesy of Amazon

This two-player game teaches kids as young as 6 spatial orientation, hand/eye coordination, problem solving and logic.

3. Love Letter

Love Letter board game cover

Photo courtesy of Amazon

A fun and fast game of risk and deduction. Outwit your opponents and earn the trust of the princess.

4. Camel Up

Cover of Camel Up board game

Photo courtesy of Amazon

In this probability and strategy game, you’ll bet on five racing camels, trying to suss out which ones will place first and second in a quick race around a pyramid.

5. Math Games with Bad Drawings

Math Games with Bad Drawings

Photo courtesy of Amazon

All you need is pen and paper for the dozens of math games in this book for hours of math fun and challenges.

6. Prime Climb

Prime Climb board game

Photo courtesy of Math for Love

For kids 8+, Prime Climb is a game of strategy and luck that teaches multiplication, division and prime numbers in fast-paced, dynamic play. It’s a favorite among math teachers.

7. Uma Wimple Charts Her House

Book cover: Uma Wimple Charts Her House

Photo courtesy of Amazon

The 2022 Mathicle book prize winner highlights a variety of charts, from a pizza pie chart, to an ice cream venn diagram, to phases of the moon.

8. Chocolate Fix

Chocolate Fix board game

Photo courtesy of Think Fun

Help kids taste sweet, sweet victory when they play this Sudoku-esque game.

9. SET

Cover of SET card game box

Photo courtesy of Amazon

One of the most awarded games of all time, and for good reason.

10. Without Words: Mathematical Puzzles to Confound and Delight 

Without Words book cover

Photo courtesy of Amazon

No words. No clues. Just 36 puzzles, ranging from easy to difficult.  

What other math games, puzzles or books would you add to the list? Email us at info@jrmf.org for a future compilation!