When it comes to teaching your kids math skills, you’ve done it all: quizzes over breakfast, extra homework help, bedtime stories that sneak in math concepts. If you’re looking for new, clever ways to help your kid gain the skills she needs, all you need is a smartphone.
We’ve picked our 10 favorite math mobile apps for kids of different ages, all designed to teach four basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division); some even meet Common Core State Standards. Download one (or all!) of these apps and we promise that your kid will hardly even know she’s learning while playing.
10. Cool Math Game/App – Math Training for Kids
Three difficulty levels and the four basic concepts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) in this simple app that teaches solid math fundamentals will help your child become more skilled.
- Ages: 3 and up
- Price: Free
- OS: Android
9. Cool Math Game/App – Kids Math
The main task Kids Math is to pass all eight levels within a certain time frame by answering 10 math questions at each level (including ones about fractions and greater than/smaller than numbers.). Each question allows 30 seconds of answering time; for correct answers, players are rewarded with an additional four seconds. Dynamically generated questioning means that kids get new questions every time they play.
- Ages: 3 to 5
- Price: Free
- OS: Android
8. Cool Math Game/App – Preschool Math Games for Kids
Young kids will get experience counting, tracing and reading numbers in a fun, interactive way. And don’t let the name fool you! This app also features math exercises (addition, subtraction, sequence patterns, and more) for elementary schoolers—up to the 3rd grade level.
- Ages: 2 to 8
- Price: Free
- OS: Android
7. Cool Math Game/App – Counting Caterpillar
Gorgeous colors and stunning visuals (plus cute caterpillars and butterflies!) on the display is enough to keep kids engaged. Feed the caterpillars by counting and catching aphids in the correct number sequence and earn butterflies (displayed in a gallery) to progress through more than 45 levels.
- Ages: 4 to 5
- Price: $1.99
- OS: iOS
6. Cool Math Game/App – Peter Pig’s Money Coin Counter
Developed by Visa, this app helps kids practice sorting, counting, and identifying the value of U.S. coins to earn virtual money. Along the way, Peter Pig (a virtual piggy bank) helps kids learn facts about U.S. currency that are read aloud in a child’s voice.
- Ages: 4 to 7
- Price: Free
- OS: Android
5. Cool Math Game/App – Marble Math Junior
Solve a variety of math problems by collecting numbers and bonuses as you navigate a marble maze. With three difficulty levels and 16 marble styles, this app can be personalized to fit your kid’s skills and personality. It also lets you customize games to concentrate on the areas in which your child needs the most help.
- Ages: 6 to 8
- Price: $2.99
- OS: iOS
4. Cool Math Game/App – Crazy Times Tables
Your child will love this app because of its fun, games, and photo features, but you’ll love it too. The app takes a personalized approach by identifying his learning stage to help him master his times tables.
- Ages: 5 to 10
- Price: $2.99
- OS: iOS
3. Cool Math Game/App – Let’s Do the Math
Keep kids busy for hours with 15 different types of exercises in three categories and 50 word problems that focus on addition and subtraction. The app can be used either as flash cards or as a series of puzzles to teach basic concepts.
- Ages: 6 and up
- Price: Free
- OS: Android
2. Cool Math Game/App – Thinking Blocks Multiplication
Use number blocks to solve multiplication word problems, a strategy supported by Common Core standards. This app introduces kids to six problem solving models, which helps them organize information and visualize number relationships.
- Ages: 7 to 10
- Price: Free
- OS: iOS
1. Cool Math Game/App – Mathmateer
Mathmateer, voted one of the top 10 best apps for elementary school kids by Appolicious (the app directory), appeals to kids’ creative side. To build a rocket ship to launch into space, kids must earn money by completing basic math challenges while recognizing patterns and shapes, telling time, and working on fractions and square roots. (Ages 9 to 11; $0.99; iPhone, iPad)
- Ages: 9 to 11
- Price: $0.99
- OS: iOS