Math games have been found to have a number of benefits for children when employed properly. These include enabling children to grasp tough concepts, as well as giving them a lot of practice performing math without their realizing it, since they're absorbed in playing the game. In addition, math games have proven useful in motivating children by providing some context to the math concepts they are studying. Moreover, the games aid teachers in assessing children, since the teacher can view how each child plays the game.
Kids of all ages can benefit from math games. For young children, games should be kept simple and focus on the basics. Counting games, for example, can help children recognize the numbers from one to 10 and can be varied. A typical game may involve finding the missing number in a given selection, or require children to put numbers in a certain order. Games for older children are more complex; they may involve team games or incorporate cards or board games.
Teachers can introduce math games in the classroom. These games could use the blackboard or make use of cards printed out ahead of time. For example, a game called Adder Ladders involves players' racing to complete their game cards by adding and subtracting as quickly as possible but without making mistakes.
There are plenty of websites that specialize in math games, allowing a child to hone his math skills at home. Often these take the form of games built with Flash technology or similar programs. For example, Sheppard Software's Fruitshoot Addition game (sheppardsoftware.com) has the player shoot bits of fruit as they fly across the screen by performing basic addition.
You can find math games for virtually any area of mathematical learning, including games that teach decimals, problem solving and fractions. The BBC StarShip game has players use their geometrical skills to take part in a galactic quest by answering math questions. Another BBC game simulates the toss of a coin to teach kids probability.